Scammers use fake court documents to steal thousands in Snohomish County

Scammers impersonating law enforcement are sending fake court documents asking Snohomish County residents to pay bail bonds for their neighbors or co-workers, or penalties for missing jury duty, authorities said.

Authorities said those scams have stolen thousands of dollars every day for over six months. About a dozen people come in to report or answer their questions about the scams every day.

The scammers send fake documents to people’s phones chock-full of legal jargon and gibberish, said Snohomish County sheriff’s office spokesperson Renee Cooper. To a layperson, those documents might look official and even scary.

Scammers usually ask people to pay with bitcoin or online gift cards, she said. People of all ages and demographics are being targeted, not just older adults.

About a dozen people every day have come to the Snohomish County sheriff’s office to report or ask questions about the scams for over six months, Cooper said. Cooper said the office's front lobby attendants see $3,000 to $6,000 collectively stolen from community members daily.

“People are fortunate if they lose in the hundreds,” she said.

Sometimes the scammers will use fake names claiming to be law enforcement officials, but other times, they will use the real names of sheriff’s office lieutenants, sergeants and deputies, Cooper said.

Authorities from law enforcement and other government agencies will not contact someone in this way or demand you pay them, especially with a gift card or bitcoin, Cooper said. “If you feel like it's a scam, it probably is a scam.”

If you’re unsure, hang up and call the sheriff’s office or come to the office in person, Cooper said. Officials there will be happy to confirm a questionable message or debunk it.

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