Jo Daviess County Sheriff warns of new scams

There's a new scam in Jo Daviess County and authorities want the public to be aware.

Sheriff Klaus Kretschmer said the Jo Daviess County Sheriff's Office has seen an increase in the amount of fraud claims. In one case, a scammer posed as a member of the Jo Daviess County Sheriff's Office and requested payment for a bond on an active warrant by electronic wire transfer.

The office is also seeing an increase in internet-based fraud for sales of heavy equipment. Scammers make fraudulent websites/advertisements that are almost identical to legitimate businesses. These ads are common on social media, like Facebook Marketplace. The scammers pose as members of the business and set up sales for equipment. The equipment is usually priced well below normal market value. Victims make payments on the equipment which doesn’t get delivered and the scammer stops communication.

Sheriff Kretschmer reminds residents that they should be extremely cautious when communicating with people online unless they’re absolutely certain of their identity.

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