Local law enforcement agencies warn about scammers asking for bond money, targeting sex offenders

QUINCY — The Adams County Sheriff’s Department and the Quincy Police Department are asking people to be aware of someone trying to pass themselves off as a member of law enforcement and demanding money.

Deputy Sheriff Pat Frazier said Monday people representing themselves as a law enforcement officer are seeking bond money for outstanding arrest warrants. Frazier said the Sheriff’s Office doesn’t contact people by phone for the purpose of collecting bond. 

“They’re calling individuals in our area, telling them they have charges pending in Adams County,” Frazier said. “They are trying to convince people that they can take care of it over the phone. That’s not how our department works.”

Frazier said a similar scam happened in May.

Det. James Brown with the Quincy Police Department says scammers are specifically targeting sex offenders, trying to get the sex offenders to send money because of an alleged violation of their registration.  The scammers also are contacting the sex offender’s employers to get the sex offender into trouble or get additional personal information about them.   

“They call the employers to make their scam sound more legit,” Brown said.

The callers seeking the money also may be asking to be paid by a QR code linked to a Bitcoin machine. Frazier said Adams County doesn’t seek or accept payments in that manner for any service it provides.

“I don’t know of anybody who deals in Bitcoin,” he said. “That should be your first clue.”

Frazier and Brown both said the callers will ask for a person to buy gift cards. That person then calls back and shares the code on the card.

“That’s obviously not a legit transaction as well,” Frazier said.

Brown said this type of scam pops up locally “once or twice a year.” He says he’s received at least 15 calls from people who have been contacted.

Frazier said someone who believes they are being scammed should take down the information from the caller and then call the Adams County Sheriff’s Department at 217-277-2702.