Law Enforcement Impersonation Scams: How to Spot Red Flags

Imagine receiving a phone call from someone claiming to be with your local sheriff’s office. They know your name. They tell you there’s a warrant for your arrest because you missed a court appearance. They sound professional, keep you on the phone, and insist you must act immediately, or you’ll be arrested.

Unfortunately, this isn’t a scene from a movie. It’s one of the fastest-growing scams targeting consumers across the country.

Recently, an individual was contacted by scammers posing as the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office. The fraudsters instructed them to drive toward a police station, but while en route, they claimed the individual would be arrested unless they first deposited cash into a Bitcoin ATM. Believing the threat was real, the person withdrew thousands of dollars and deposited them into the cryptocurrency kiosk. It wasn’t until afterward that this individual realized it was a scam and reported the incident to law enforcement.

Sadly, this type of fraud is becoming increasingly common.

How the Scam Works

Law enforcement impersonation scams rely on fear and urgency.

Typically, the scam follows these steps:

1. You receive a phone call that appears to come from a local police department or sheriff’s office. The caller ID may even display a legitimate government phone number.
2. The caller claims you’ve missed jury duty, failed to appear in court, or are connected to a criminal investigation.
3. You’re told an arrest warrant or legal action is pending.
4. The scammer pressures you to stay on the phone and not speak with anyone else.
5. To “avoid arrest,” you’re instructed to withdraw cash and deposit it into a Bitcoin ATM, purchase gift cards, wire money, or send funds through a payment app.

Every step is designed to create panic before you have time to think.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), FBI, and U.S. Marshals Service have all issued warnings about these scams because they continue to victimize consumers nationwide.

Red Flags to Watch For

If you receive a call like this, stop and look for these warning signs:

• Threats of immediate arrest. Real law enforcement does not call demanding payment to avoid being arrested.
• Requests for Bitcoin or cryptocurrency. No legitimate government agency accepts Bitcoin ATM deposits as payment for fines or legal matters.
• Pressure to act immediately. Scammers don’t want you to verify their story or talk to family members.
• Instructions to stay on the phone. Keeping victims connected prevents them from contacting their financial institution or police.
• Caller ID appears legitimate. Phone numbers can be spoofed. Even if the display says “Sheriff’s Office,” it doesn’t mean the call is authentic.
• Demands for secrecy. If someone tells you not to tell your bank, family, or police, it’s almost certainly a scam.

Remember These Facts

If there’s one thing to remember, it’s that no legitimate law enforcement agency will ever ask you to:

• Deposit money into a Bitcoin ATM
• Purchase gift cards
• Wire money
• Send money through Zelle, Cash App, Venmo, or similar services
• Pay money to avoid arrest

Those requests are always signs of fraud.

Why Criminals Use Bitcoin ATMs

Bitcoin transactions are extremely difficult to reverse. Once cash is deposited into a cryptocurrency ATM and transferred to the scammer’s digital wallet, recovering the money is often impossible. That’s exactly why scammers prefer cryptocurrency over traditional payment methods.

The FTC specifically warns consumers that no legitimate business or government agency will ever tell you to use a Bitcoin ATM to protect your money or resolve a legal issue.

What to Do If You Receive One of These Calls

If someone claims to be from law enforcement and demands payment:

• Hang up immediately.
• Do not call the number back.
• Contact the agency directly using the phone number listed on its official website.
• Never withdraw cash or send cryptocurrency because of an unexpected phone call.
• If you’re unsure whether the call is legitimate, contact your financial institution before taking any action.

Taking a few extra minutes to verify the information could save you thousands of dollars.

What to Do If You Believe You’ve Been Scammed

If you’ve already sent money:

1. Contact your financial institution immediately. They may be able to help protect your accounts from additional fraud.
2. Report the incident to your local law enforcement agency.
3. File a report with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
4. Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission.
5. Keep any receipts, transaction records, phone numbers, text messages, emails, or Bitcoin ATM receipts that may assist investigators.

The sooner you report the incident, the better the chance authorities have of investigating the fraud.

LorMet Is Your Partner in Fraud Prevention

At LorMet Community Federal Credit Union, protecting your accounts and personal information is a top priority. We invest in security tools like LorMet CardControl and EnFact Fraud Detection, but your awareness and actions are just as important in preventing fraud.

If you’re ever unsure about a message, phone call, or website, please reach out to us before taking any action. We’re happy to verify and help.

Have questions or need to report suspicious activity?
Call us immediately at (440) 960-6600.

Stay Alert. Stay Protected.

Scammers are becoming more convincing every day, but their tactics remain the same: create fear, demand secrecy, and pressure victims into making immediate payments.

Remember: If someone tells you to withdraw cash or deposit money into a Bitcoin ATM to avoid arrest, it’s a scam.

When in doubt, hang up, independently verify the caller, and contact LorMet before taking any action. We’re always here to help you recognize fraud and protect your finances.