TETON COUNTY, Wyo. — Fraudulent calls have been on the rise, Teton County Sheriff’s Office announced Friday, Aug. 4, following a recent uptick in reports from community members.
From August 2022 to August 2023, the Teton County Sheriff’s Office took 194 calls for service relating to fraud, the agency said.
In 2021, scammers posing as a Jackson Police Officer called individuals in the community from a number that appeared to be JPD’s main line. The scammer sought money orders to resolve fake legal issues.
The Sheriff’s Office is reminding the community that no legitimate law enforcement officer will ever ask you for money in lieu of being arrested.
If you receive a phone call from a number you don’t recognize and are asked for money, never use gift cards as a form of payment or accept checks that are greater than a previous agreed upon amount. Individuals should never provide personal information such as bank accounts, passwords or social security numbers.
Aside from phone fraud, community members should be on alert for fradulent checks, fake lease agreements and phishing emails.
“If something seems too good to be true, it probably is not a legitimate opportunity,” the Sheriff’s Office said. “If you think you are being subjected to a fraud event, terminate the communication and contact the Teton County Sheriff’s Office and/or file a report with the FBI at IC3.gov.”
