Cell phone

FILE - A man uses a cell phone in New Orleans, Aug. 11, 2019. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane, File)

 Jenny Kane

URBANA, Ill. (WAND) - The Champaign County Sheriff's Office is warning residents about scams involving impersonations of deputies. 

The sheriff's office said that it never asks for payment by phone, text, email, cryptocurrency, or electronic transfer to avoid arrest, pay fines and more. 

Scammers are impersonating officers by using spoofed phone numbers that appear to come from the sheriff's office. 

Callers might also threaten arrest if payment isn't made. 

Anyone who receives a suspicious call is urged to hang up immediately, not provide personal or financial information and not send money. 

For questions or concerns, contact the Champaign County Sheriff's Office at 217-384-1204 or 217-333-8911 after business hours. 

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