MACON COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — The Macon County Sheriff’s Office issued a scam alert on Saturday regarding individuals falsely claiming to represent the sheriff’s office.

Together with the Central Illinois Regional Dispatch Center, the Macon County Sheriff’s Office has been receiving numerous reports of people impersonating members of the Macon County Sheriff’s Office, particularly identifying as Lt. Belcher.

The scammers are accessing the Macon County Circuit Clerk’s website to find real individuals with outstanding warrants for missed court dates, then calling these victims while impersonating the sheriff’s office phone number, making it appear as though the call is legitimately from the office.

Additionally, these scammers then ask the victims for money, as to avoid arrests concerning their warrants. The sheriff’s office confirmed this is a scam, as they don’t take money over the phone. They are urging anyone who receives a similar call to immediately hang up the phone.