Warrant Arrest Scam Phone Call

DATE & TIME: 06-08-2018 / 1000-1300

LOCATION: Beatrice and Wymore, Nebraska

OFFENSE: Warrant Arrest Scam Phone Call

CASE #: 2018-2797

A doctor from a medical clinic at the Beatrice Community Hospital and Health Center in Beatrice called the Gage County Sheriff’s Office and reported to an investigator about a scam phone call he had received.  The doctor said a male suspect called the clinic, asked for the doctor by name, and stated he was “Deputy Ryan Walker” and the receptionist transferred the call back to his office. The doctor states he was told he had two warrants for failure to appear for jury duty, but he could avoid arrest by coming to the sheriff’s office and paying fines. The victim checked the Gage County Sheriff’s Office website and saw an identical report was made to the sheriff’s office the day before, which alerted the doctor that this was a scam. The phone number that showed up when the suspect called was 402-200-8455.

The doctor stated when the suspect called back about an hour later he confronted the suspect on the phone about this being a scam call and the suspect hung up. The doctor states the suspect also provided two (fraudulent) case numbers, the first was FTA SRU 0019-17 and COC-SRU-0453-21. 

Southeast Communications also relayed a call to the investigator from an assistant fire chief with the Wymore Fire Department who reported the suspect called his personal cell phone and asked for him by name, telling him he was “Deputy Ryan Walker” and there were warrants for his arrest. The assistant fire chief became immediately suspicious as he was familiar with the deputies on the sheriff’s office and did not recognize the name Ryan Walker. He confronted the suspect about that and the suspect hung up.  This victim also checked the Gage County Sheriff’s Office web page and saw the press release about the incident from June 7^th where a suspect had tried this scam.

Neither the doctor, nor the Wymore Fire fighter who were targeted lost any money from this scam. The investigator advised them to check their mail and be wary of fraudulent accounts or charges that could have been opened, since the suspect used the victim’s name when first contacting them.

Both victims in this incident report the male spoke English and sounded legitimate, however they were able to recognize this as a scam before they provided any personal, financial, or confidential information.

The Gage County Sheriff’s Office urges residents to be wary of scams, fraudulent activity, and other attempts to obtain money or information from them. Personal, confidential, or financial information should never be given out, unless you are 100% sure the person requesting the information is a legitimate business or other official. If you have any suspicious contacts, whether over the phone, online, in person, or through the mail, do not give out information. Contact your local policed department or call the Gage County Sheriff’s Office and ask to speak with an investigator.

Sheriff Millard “Gus” Gustafson #903

Investigator T. Hanson #90310