ONGOING SCAM PRETENDS TO BE YCSO DEMANDING PAYMENT OR YOU GO TO JAIL!

Published on June 03, 2025

Everyone needs to be alert to a current, ongoing scam that pretends to be YCSO calling to threaten you with arrest if you don't pay up now for some phony fine or court obligation. 

The scam has been going on for several months, but in recent weeks has accelerated with victims who fall for it losing thousands of dollars. Basically, the scammer calls (and your caller ID may be "spoofed" to show YCSO...so, don't be fooled by that) and claims he is from the Sheriff's Office, using an actual name of one of our personnel. He says you have court warrants out for your arrest and if you don't pay for a phony old fine or some other obligation, you will be taken to jail. Normally, the scammer wants payment by cryptocurrency at a Coinstar machine or Bitcoin ATM in a retail store. If the scammer leaves you a voicemail and asks you to call back at a number he provides, do not call that number....it is not our actual phone number but only connects you to the criminal trying to steal your money.

DO NOT SEND ANY TYPE OF PAYMENT TO THESE SCAMMERS. YCSO (or any other law enforcement agency) will never call you for any reason, especially to demand payment of any kind or threaten to arrest you. If you happen to answer such a call, immediately hang up and call us directly at (928) 771-3260 or (928) 771-3299 (our Fraud Unit) to report the scam. And please spread the word to everyone you know. Your friend or neighbor might be the next victim unless they know about this scam.