SCAM ALERT: Callers “Spoof” Kent County Sheriff’s Department Phone Number

Kent County authorities say scam artists are calling people and impersonating members of the Sheriff's Department and trying to con people out of their money.

Police say that the scammers are using the name of an employee of the department, and that they've also "spoofed" the department's phone number, which makes it so that when they call, the Sheriff's Department's number appears on caller ID.

The caller then tells the intended victim that there is a warrant out for his or her arrest. They continue on telling the victim that the warrant could be taken care of by paying hundreds of dollars over the phone, using a prepaid debit card.

The Kent County Sheriff's Department says it would never contact someone and request their credit card information over the phone.

Anyone who doubts that they're speaking with a legitimate member of the Sheriff's Department can ask for credentials and call the dispatch center at 616-336-3113.