CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — The Linn County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about an increase in phone scams in which callers impersonate law enforcement officers and threaten arrest unless immediate payment is made.
Maj. Chad Colston of the Linn County Sheriff’s Office said the scams often claim a person missed jury duty or has an outstanding warrant, then demand payment through gift cards, cryptocurrency kiosks or other nontraditional methods.
“We are not going to call people and ask for money,” Colston said. “We’re not going to ask you for gift cards, to go to a Bitcoin machine or to make a deposit at a convenience store.”…