Fake Deputy, Police, and Court Calls
Category
Phone and Impersonation
Affects
Residents and businesses
Status
Active
Source
Washoe County Sheriff's Office and Reno Police
Callers claim to be a deputy, officer, or court official and say you missed jury duty, have an unpaid citation, or face an arrest warrant. Scammers spoof caller ID so the call appears to come from the Sheriff's Office, a local court, or Reno Police, then demand immediate payment.
How it works
- A call or voicemail from a number that looks like a real local agency line.
- You are told there is a warrant, missed jury duty, or unpaid fine and that you can avoid arrest by paying now.
- Payment is requested by gift cards, crypto kiosks, or payment apps.
Red flags
- Law enforcement and courts do not take payment over the phone, by gift card, or at a Bitcoin ATM.
- Pressure to act immediately and to keep the call secret.
- The caller ID looks right. Spoofing makes that meaningless.
What to do
- Hang up. Do not call back the number that called you.
- Look up the agency's number yourself and call to verify. Reno Police: (775) 334-2677 (non-emergency). Washoe County Sheriff: (775) 785-9276.
- If you paid, report to police right away and to the FTC and FBI IC3.
Already paid or shared information? See the step-by-step checklist and the list of places to report. You can also report to the FTC or the FBI IC3.
From our blog
Scam Alert: Fake Washoe County Sheriff's Deputies Are Calling Reno Residents
Sources
Washoe County Sheriff's Office (Washoe Life) · KTVN Channel 2 (Washoe County phone scams) · Reno Police warning (News 4)
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Posted solely for community awareness. This is not an official government or law enforcement notice, and High Sierra Cyber is not affiliated with any agency named here. Board last updated October 10, 2026. Details, phone numbers, and policies change, so confirm with the official agency before acting. Submitted reports are unverified. General information only, not legal or financial advice.