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Scam targets registered sex offenders

In June, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation was made aware of registered sex offenders receiving phone calls from scammers demanding some form of payment to avoid arrest. Scammers claim to be with the “Sex Offender Registration Unit” and were using the phone number 307-223-3042.

Investigators believe the scammers are using open source information available online to obtain the victims’ information off of the public sex offender registry.

Scammers have identified themselves as: an agent with the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, a law enforcement deputy with a local sheriff’s department, a sex offender compliance officer or an officer with the Sex Offender Registration Unit. Recently scammers used fake names such as Deputy John Goble, Steve Jones, or Keith McCoy with the Albany County Sheriff’s Office in Laramie.

Scammers then proceed to curse, threaten and try to convince victims that they are not in compliance and that there are warrants for their arrest. Victims are told they must pay a fine to avoid being arrested. Some victims were requested to pay the fine using prepaid credit cards.

This is a nationwide scam. Those who have received similar calls are encouraged to contact local law enforcement or the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation at 307-777-7181.

 

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