Sheriff Warns: Beware of False Warrant Phone Scam

From the Sheriff’s Office to residents of the Manchester area:

Today, we had two residents report that they received a telephone call at work from a person pretending to be from the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office (“Deputy John Michaels” with the “Washtenaw County Warrants Division”). The subject told both residents that they were sent a summons for jury duty on a past date, and since they had failed to appear, a warrant was issued against them.

The subject then told both residents that they needed to buy a “Green Dot” card for the amount of the warrant. He then informed them that once they bought the card they were to scratch off the back in order to expose the 14 digit number and call him back. Both residents were then told to report to the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office.

This is just another version of a telephone scam, in a long series of scams that continue to plague the entire nation from time to time. If you receive a similar call, simply hang up. The court system does not operate in this manner and does not employ local law enforcement in this way.

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.