08/26/2026
This same scam attempt has been reported by two customers in the past week. Please be careful and extra cautious when disclosing personal information or sending cash, gift cards, or other forms of payments to strangers.
On August 12, 2026, the Stephenson County Sheriff’s Office received a report from a resident who had been contacted by telephone by a man claiming to be a federal agent. The caller convinced the resident that his identity had been compromised and told him that, in order to protect his bank accounts, he needed to send a specified amount of cash to an address in California.
Believing the caller was legitimate, the resident followed the instructions, placed $11,500 in cash into a package, and shipped it.
Fortunately, after telling a family member what had happened, the resident was advised that he had likely been the victim of a scam and should immediately contact law enforcement.
🚨 Protect yourself from scams:
• Be suspicious of unexpected calls claiming to be from law enforcement or another government agency—especially when the caller demands money.
• Law enforcement agencies will not call you and instruct you to mail cash, purchase gift cards, send cryptocurrency, or transfer money to “protect” your accounts.
• Scammers often create a sense of urgency and tell victims they must act immediately. Slow down. That pressure is designed to keep you from thinking or talking to someone you trust.
• Never rely solely on the phone number or information provided by the caller. Hang up and independently locate the official telephone number for the agency, bank, or company the caller claims to represent.
• Never give an unsolicited caller passwords, PINs, verification codes, Social Security numbers, or banking information.
• Talk to a trusted family member or friend before sending money to someone you do not personally know.
If something doesn’t seem right, stop before sending the money and contact law enforcement.