Pennington County officials are warning residents about a resurgence of phone scams involving callers impersonating members of the Sheriff’s Office. These scammers claim you’ve missed jury duty, have outstanding warrants, or—most recently—failed to appear for a federal district court case. Victims are often instructed to purchase gift cards or deposit funds at a kiosk—classic red flags of fraudulent activity. Officials note that The Pennington County Sheriff’s Office does not collect fines or warrant payments over the phone, except in very specific cases. Only Power of Attorney (POA) warrants may be paid by phone using a credit card. To verify if you have an active warrant, visit www.pennco.org/warrantsearch. If you receive a suspicious call demanding payment, hang up immediately and contact the Sheriff’s Office directly at (605) 394-6117.
The Sheriff’s office reminds residents No legitimate law enforcement agency will ever ask for gift cards or kiosk deposits. They say to Stay alert, protect your personal information, and report any scam attempts.
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