Klamath County, Oregon – Residents of Klamath County are advised to remain alert as scammers posing judicial authorities in an alarming wave of fraudulent phone calls. Numerous claims of people claiming to be from the Klamath County Circuit Court have been received, attempting to deceive locals into paying fake fines or fees.
Reportedly calling victims, scammers claim they owe money to the court and demand payments right away. These fraudulent calls often include threats of legal action, such as arrest warrants or fines for missing jury service. The court has underlined, nonetheless, that these kinds of requests are never valid.
“The Circuit Court will never contact anyone about collecting fines and fees unless there has been some written communication with a party prior,” said John Powell, trial court administrator for the Klamath County Circuit Court. “No staff are actively engaging in any collections activity over the phone.”
Powell also cautioned that scammers are making calls seeming to originate from legitimate court or law enforcement phone lines using advanced techniques including “spoofing” technology. This can make it especially difficult for residents to identify the fraud.
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Should residents get unwanted calls, texts, or emails pretending to be from the court or law enforcement, they must exercise caution.
Should you answer a dubious call, hang up right away and go ahead and check the information with the court at 541-883-5503. Clerks are on hand to verify if any fines are legitimately due.
Apart from calling the court, officials advise local law enforcement to document attempts at scams so as to assist in the prevention of these networks and stop others from becoming victims.
Residents should keep in mind that official court interactions usually take place in written form in order to guard themselves even more. Residents are advised that previous written communication always exists in case of fines or fee disputes.
The court is dedicated to increasing awareness and arming the society with the knowledge to recognize and document dishonest behavior as phone scammers becoming more sophisticated. By staying alert and informed, residents can help protect themselves and their neighbors from falling prey to these deceptive tactics.
Use caution; if in doubt, confirm personally from reliable sources.
