Sheriff’s Office Warns of Phone Scam Targeting Registered Offenders

SEDGWICK COUNTY, Kan. — The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office Offender Registration Unit is warning registered offenders about a phone scam that appears to be resurfacing in the area. 

Callers are falsely telling registered offenders they must submit a DNA sample or face an arrest warrant. The Sheriff’s Office does not make those demands by phone.

Scammers may use publicly available offender registration information to make the calls appear legitimate. In previous incidents involving similar scams, callers attempted to convince victims to send money or provide financial information to avoid arrest or resolve a supposed warrant. The Sheriff’s Office has also received reports of scammers requesting payment through gift cards or electronic payment services.

Anyone who receives a suspicious call should not provide personal information, banking information, payment or gift card information over the phone.

Registered offenders who have questions or want to verify whether a call is legitimate should hang up and contact the Offender Registration Unit directly at 316-660-3939.

-end-