Phone scammers pretending to be Will County sheriff's official

WILL COUNTY, Ill. -- The Will County sheriff's office is warning residents about recent phone scams in which the caller claims to be a police officer with the sheriff's office.

Within a span of a couple hours Tuesday, two doctors, one from Homer Glen and the other from Joliet, reported they received phone calls from a man purporting to be "Sgt. Perry from the sheriff's office," according to a statement from the Will County sheriff's office.

The man had a heavy southern accent and told both doctors there was an active warrant out for their arrest, the statement said. To avoid being taken into the custody, the caller said a bond payment must be made over the phone. The victims were instructed to purchase pre-paid credit cards and later provide the card numbers to the caller.

The sheriff's office does not accept any type of payment over the phone and does not call people regarding warrants or donations, the statement said. Posting bond for a warrant requires legal documentation. Documents must be filled out and money must be exchanged in person with an officer present.

Anyone who receives a call from the phone scammers is advised to hang up and not give out personal information.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire - Copyright Chicago Sun-Times 2017.)