Scams circulate

Green River residents continue to be the target of phone scams.

Det. Luke Benson with the Green River Police Department said they’ve received a number of calls regarding phone scams the city’s residents are reporting.

While tax season is underway, Benson said they haven’t gotten complaints about scams focused on delinquent taxes. A previously reported scam involving the IRS revolves around a person calling and claiming the intended victim owes delinquent taxes. The caller demands a payment and threatens legal consequences if payment is made on the debt.

Benson said one scam they are hearing about revolves around claims that a person missed their jury dates. Benson said people who reported the scam claim they were asked to pay a fine for missing the jury assignment by purchasing a prepaid card and transferring the money to another account. Benson said anyone missing their court date would be contacted by an officer of sheriff’s deputy. He also said any fine a person would be required to pay wouldn’t be done through a prepaid card. The scam isn’t unique to Green River residents, as the Rock Springs Police Department has also issued a warning regarding the scam.

Despite one scam or another frequently circulating throughout Sweetwater County, Benson said the number of people being taken advantage of by scam phone calls is decreasing.