Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office: Beware of scammers posing as law enforcement

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Reports of scam calls made to the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office are on the rise. The agency put out an alert saying scammers are claiming to be law enforcement and demanding money.

"Law enforcement agencies will never call to ask for these types of payments to be made regarding warrants or jury duty. In fact, we never call threatening arrest, period."

Deputies warn that scammers can call you with a number that shows up as a trusted source, like a government agency -- a tactic they call "spoofing."

Scammers will ask for payment through cryptocurrency, payment apps, or even gift cards. 

Deputies say if you think a call is suspicious, hang up and call the sheriff office's non-emergency number. 

That's 414-278-4788.