MULTNOMAH COUNTY, Ore. — The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents Thursday about a wave of fraudulent text messages impersonating law enforcement and threatening recipients with arrest or fines if they do not appear in court within 24 hours.
MCSO said it received dozens of calls Thursday from community members reporting the illegitimate messages, according to a news release. The sheriff’s office confirmed the texts are not legitimate.
The fraudulent messages claim to be from law enforcement and tell recipients they are scheduled for a court appearance within 24 hours, MCSO said. The messages further state that failure to appear will result in penalties ranging from significant fines to immediate arrest, according to the release.
MCSO said the messages are a common scare tactic used by scammers to create a sense of urgency, with the goal of convincing people to send money or reveal sensitive personal information.
“The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office does not use text messages to let people know about court appearances,” the agency said in its release.
MCSO offered the following guidance for residents who receive suspicious messages:
Do not send money to unknown individuals or government agencies without first verifying the legitimacy of the request through official channels. If you receive a suspicious call or text from someone claiming to be law enforcement, do not use the contact information provided or click any links in the message. If you have questions about the identity of someone claiming to be a law enforcement officer, hang up and call your local non-emergency dispatch center to verify.
The sheriff’s office encouraged community members to remain vigilant and use good judgment when receiving unsolicited, high-pressure calls, emails or text messages, according to the release.
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