Phone scam going around Bonneville County

Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office has taken reports of a phone scam where people were identifying themselves as Bonneville County Deputies or Officers.

The scammers tell victims they have a warrant or have missed jury duty and are asked to get money cards from a store to pay a fine or make it go away.

The number the suspect uses, 208-505-0293, does have an Idaho area code and when called has a voice message that says it is the “Bonneville County Sheriff’s Department”, but this number does not belong to the office. The person on the voice message is not affiliated in any way.

The Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office, Bonneville County Courts, or any other Law Enforcement or Court entity do not ask for money or payment over the phone to take care of fines, warrants, or other issues.

Service of warrants, payment of fines, and other legal issues always happen at the courthouse or jail.

“There’s absolutely no reason the courts, law enforcement, anyone would need to take money over the phone that way. All that has to be taken care of at the courthouse, the Sheriff’s Office, the police station, the jail, things like that,” said Sgt. Bryan Lovell with the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office.

If you have been a victim of this type of scam and lost money, please report it to your local law enforcement for investigation. If you are suspicious of someone calling and identifying themselves as Law Enforcement, look up the number to your local dispatch and confirm that an officer is attempting to contact you.

Keep in mind that once these scams have come to light in the media the numbers and voice messages change to something else.