Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez issued a news release Wednesday warning people not to fall for court or jail-related scams.
He said that the Sheriff’s department had “received information” since September on a “dozen cases” where “criminals have attempted to prey on people by using the names of real police officers to make the calls seem legitimate.”
Citing specific examples, Martinez wrote one man hopped on an online meeting where a “virtual” scammer demanded more than $3,100.
In another instance, someone got a text message with a QR code linked to a fake “Lake County Sheriff’s Official Bond Identification” website.
“The scammers are pushing victims to use any platform to transfer funds including Apple Pay, Cash App and bitcoin digital currency machines,” he wrote. “The Lake County Sheriff’s Department will never call and demand money to help you clear your name, avoid arrest or to bond someone out of jail.”
A department spokeswoman was not immediately available for comment on whether anyone will be charged in these cases.
On Monday, a state audit accused Martinez of improperly spending nearly $300,000, mostly from jail commissary funds. His lawyer did not respond to a request for comment.
A spokeswoman for U.S. Attorney Adam Mildred declined comment.
“We are reviewing the report and will take any necessary actions to fulfill our duties,” Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita’s spokeswoman Slayde Settle said in an email.
mcolias@post-trib.com
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