Missoula County Sheriff’s Office Warns of Phone Scam Targeting Families

MISSOULA COUNTY — The Missoula County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a phone scam targeting people with false claims that their loved ones have been arrested.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, scammers are calling residents and claiming to be from the agency, then telling victims that a family member, sibling or friend has been arrested. The callers then request money to post bond over the phone.

“THIS IS A SCAM!!” the Sheriff’s Office stated in a public alert posted on social media Tuesday.

The agency emphasized that neither the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office nor detention staff will call residents requesting money over the phone.

“Our customer service office collects money, at the office, for concealed weapons permits, fingerprinting and civil processing fees and detention staff collect bond fees at the Detention Facility,” the Sheriff’s Office explained.

Officials said the best defense against these scams is to simply hang up the phone. Anyone who receives such a call and has questions about its legitimacy should contact the Sheriff’s Office directly to verify the information.

The warning comes as phone scams targeting families with fake emergency scenarios have become increasingly common across the country. These scams often prey on people’s natural concern for their loved ones, pressuring victims to act quickly without verifying the information.

Residents who believe they have been targeted by this scam should report it to local authorities.