Phone Scam

DATE & TIME: 02-11-2022 / 8:57 am

LOCATION: Beatrice, Nebraska

OFFENSE: Phone Scam

CASE #: 2022-0496

A resident of Beatrice, Nebraska called the Gage County Sheriff’s Office to report she received a phone call on her cell phone with a pre-recorded message advising her she was in some type of trouble with courts and an arrest warrant was or will be issued on her.  The message then advised her to “Press One”.  The message did not mention her name and she did not provide any personal, confidential, or financial information to the suspect.  She disconnected the call and called the Gage County Sheriff’s Office and spoke with an investigator about the incident. 
After confirming with her that she did not lose any money, the investigator assured her it was a scam and spoke with her briefly about these types of scams.

The Gage County Sheriff’s Office urges residents to be cautious and wary of scams of all types:  Phone scams; mail fraud; Internet scams; and in person attempts to defraud the victim.  Red flags/warnings that the person you are dealing with has suspicious or suspect motives are numerous.  They include:  Demanding secrecy; the matter is urgent; the suspect will not let or does not want to let you hang up the phone or consult with anyone; threatening arrest unless you comply; and a huge red flag is requesting payment by “gift card”.  Government agencies do not accept payment by gift card and it is not a standard business practice to demand payment by gift card.

If you believe you are being scammed, do not provide any personal, confidential, or financial information and do not make any payments or agree to make any payments without first consulting with a family member, trusted friend, a financial advisor such as a banker or accountant, or call Southeast Communications at 402-223-4080 and ask for a deputy or police officer to contact you.  If you need to speak with an investigator with the Gage County Sheriff’s Office call 402-223-5222.

Sheriff Millard “Gus” Gustafson #903

Sergeant T. Hanson #90310