Clinton police warn residents of scam caller posing as Sheriff’s Deputy

CLINTON, Ill. (WAND) — Clinton police are warning residents about a scam after a local woman reported receiving a fraudulent phone call from someone pretending to be a deputy with the DeWitt County Sheriff’s Office.

According to police, the caller falsely claimed the woman had an active warrant for her arrest, stating that a judge was already on the line. The scammer then instructed her to purchase gift cards or bitcoin to pay “bail” and avoid being immediately taken into custody.

Police say the call is a textbook example of a scam, emphasizing several key points:

Law enforcement will never call you to inform you of a warrant.
No legitimate agency will ever demand payment over the phone.
Illinois no longer uses cash bail, and even before the law changed, police never accepted gift cards or cryptocurrency as payment.

With the holiday season underway, authorities warn that scam attempts typically increase this time of year. They urge residents to hang up immediately if they receive a suspicious call and, if uncertain, to contact law enforcement directly using verified phone numbers.

Residents can reach local agencies at: