Attempted Theft by Deception / Impersonating a Peace Officer

DATE & TIME: 09-12-2023 / 3:10 pm             

LOCATION: Beatrice

OFFENSE: Attempted Theft by Deception / Impersonating a Peace Officer

CASE #: 2023-4580

On Tuesday, September 12, 2023 at approximately 3:00 pm, a resident from the Beatrice area was called by a suspect who had “spoofed” his phone number so the call appeared to be coming from the Gage County Sheriff’s Office.  The suspect used the name of an actual investigator from the Gage County Sheriff’s Office and told the victim she had missed court and had to pay $3,060.00 in order to stay out of jail.  The suspect told the victim to not hang up with him or he would send “a mobile unit” to her house to arrest her.

Fortunately, during the 43-minute phone call with the suspect the victim was able to text the Gage County Victim Assistance coordinator, who then contacted the real investigator and advised him of the ongoing scam.  The investigator called the suspect and advised her she was being scammed.  She put the suspect and the investigator on a conference call and within a few seconds the suspect hung up.  After confirming with her that she did not have a warrant and that she had not lost any money, she was advised to return to her normal activities prior to the suspect calling her.

This is an increasingly common scam throughout the country.  Law enforcement information is available on the Internet and with only a short check of the victim on the Internet, a mountebank can convince people they are in danger of being arrested.

The sheriff’s office and other law enforcement agencies will not call anyone and ask for money, in any form, in order to avoid being arrested.  If you receive this type of phone call from someone claiming to be a deputy sheriff or police officer, hang up and call Southeast Communications at 402-223-4080 and ask to be transferred to a deputy or an officer.  Do not succumb to pressure or demands for monetary payment over the phone.

Sheriff Millard “Gus” Gustafson #903

Sergeant T. Hanson #90310

Deputy M. Hager #9038