According to a press release from the Polson Police Department, a phone scam is currently circulating in the community with the caller masquerading as Chief George Simpson.

The scammers are falsely claiming that individuals have missed jury duty and now have a warrant out for their arrest. The callers then demand payment of a fine to avoid being taken into custody.

“To be clear — these calls are a scam,” said Simpson. “At no time will any member of the Polson Police Department, including the Chief of Police, ever contact citizens by telephone to demand payment for a missed court appearance, warrant or fine.”

He noted that law enforcement agencies do not operate in this manner, and no legitimate legal process would involve paying fines over the phone.

St. Ignatius Police Chief Jason Acheson encountered a similar rouse in 2003, when a caller claiming to be the chief told the victim they had intercepted a large shipment of sulfuric acid online and since it could be used to manufacture illicit drugs, they stopped the shipment. They then handed off the call to an FBI impersonator, who tried to extract the victim’s credit card and bank account information.

“When this happened, I was in Helena for a training, but it was brought to my attention by our town clerk,” Acheson recalls. “The citizen did the right thing by verifying with a known source such as town hall. In turn they contacted me to verify.”

Lake County Undersheriff Ben Woods says the sheriff’s department receives occasional complaints from citizens who say they are receiving calls from the office’s main number. The caller claims to be sheriff's department staff and “is trying to extort money from people. Essentially, the scammers are able to ‘spoof’ our number utilizing online tools to do so.”

His advice: “Ignore them and report them.”

The Polson Police Department offers the following tips for those receiving suspicious calls:

· Hang up immediately. Do not engage with the caller.

· Do not provide personal information. This includes Social Security numbers, banking information or any payment details.

· Do not send money, whether by wire transfer, prepaid card or any other method.

· Document the call. Note the time, phone number, and any details you can recall.

· Report the scam. Contact the Polson Police Department at 406-883–7301 or Lake County Dispatch Center, 406-883-7301 ext. 1.

 “The Polson Police Department takes these fraudulent schemes seriously and is actively working to track and stop these scammers,” writes Simpson. “We are asking all residents to remain vigilant and help spread the word to friends, family, and neighbors, especially those who may be more vulnerable to these types of scams.”