Scam Alert

May 22, 2015
Elise Schaffer, PIO Phone: (608) 284-6142
Sheriff's Office

The Dane County Sheriff’s Office wants to alert citizens, especially UW-Madison students, of a recent scam being investigated.

 

A detective took a report today of a man with an accent who called a UW student and claimed to be a representative of the Dane County Sheriff’s Office.  According to the victim, her caller ID showed the Sheriff’s Office reception number, which can be done by a method called “spoofing.”  The caller demanded that the student pay an outstanding tax bill in the amount of $1800 or she would be arrested and put in jail for two months.  It appears the scammers may have a list of UW students that they are targeting.

 

The Dane County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident, and is working with UW Police to inform students of the scam.  Anyone with information related to these calls is asked to call the Dane County tip line at (608) 284-6900.