Whatcom sheriff warns of phone scam. What to know, plus an upcoming scam-prevention event

Earlier this week the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office posted a message on Nextdoor warning residents that they’ve received reports of scam phone calls going around town.

According to the post, the caller claims to be a member of the sheriff’s department, using the name and title of a real employee, along with a similar badge number. The caller then claims you have an outstanding warrant and that you’ll be arrested unless you pay. While the calls come from a number with a local area code, sheriff’s office staff suspect the callers are outside of Washington or even the U.S.

If you ever receive a call demanding money in order to avoid arrest, it’s a scam — that’s not a practice local law enforcement uses.

If you need more information on how to avoid scams, the Opportunity Council’s Whatcom Asset Building Coalition is holding its annual summit next week, and this year’s theme is “Unmasking Fraud and Scams.” The summit will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. May 30 at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal.

According to Yarrow Greer, chair of the WABC, the organization picked the theme because scams have become increasingly prominent in Washington in recent years.

“In 2023, Washington residents reported losses exceeding $240 million due to scammers, a figure that has more than tripled since 2020,” Greer stated in a press release. “This summit aims to delve into these alarming statistics and provide attendees with the knowledge and tools necessary to protect themselves, their clients, and their families from fraud.”

The event is free and will cover what governments can do to protect people vulnerable to scams, consumer protection and resources to report a scam if you do come across one. You can register on WABC’s website.

This story was originally published May 23, 2024 at 4:30 PM.