COUNTY WARNS OF SCAMS PHONE CALLS FROM ALLEGED PUBLIC DEFENDERS

And some County residents are the victim of another scam, in which a scammer calls and impersonates a loved one, and says they are in jail for driving under the influence and hit-and-run. The impersonator tells the victim that a public defender has worked out a great deal; the case will be dismissed or the charges dropped if a relative pays for the damages to the vehicle. A second person, impersonating a public defender, follows up with a call to the victim, and claims that the case will be dismissed and the family member will be released from custody, provided payment is made for restitution. The impersonator gives instructions on how and where to send the money for restitution. The County Public Defenders Office advises residents that no public defender will contact a member of the public by telephone to demand money via wire transfer or any other form of payment. Anyone receiving such a phone call should refuse the demand and contact his/her local law enforcement agency.