Sheriff’s Office Warns Of Fraudulent Phone Call Trend

The Leelanau County Sheriff’s Office is warning Leelanau County residents of a rash of recent fraudulent phone calls in the county.

Per a post on the department’s Facebook page, the Sheriff’s Office “received several reports” this past Friday, January 12, of fraudulent phone calls where the caller identified themselves as “Sergeant Cooper from the Leelanau Sheriff Department.” Per the sheriff’s office, this person is fraudulently posing as a police officer who doesn’t exist.

“This caller is telling those that answer such things as a loved one has been arrested for ‘multiple blood violations,’ or that they had a warrant for their arrest for failing to provide DNA, and could pay the fines over the phone,” the Facebook post reports. “The Leelanau County Sheriff's Office does not have a Sgt. Cooper as an employee. Additionally, the Sheriff's Office or any other law enforcement agency will never call you and threaten arrest nor solicit funds over the phone.”

The post concludes by urging locals to “stay vigilant on suspected scam phone calls,” and to never give out personal or financial information to strangers over the phone. “If we need to contact you for a matter of this nature it will always be completed in person,” the Sheriff’s Office assures.