Saturday, August 29, 2026 / Lane County
If a caller asks for bail money, hang up and call the sheriff yourself
Lane County deputies say scammers are using real employee names, official-looking numbers and threats of arrest to demand money or personal information.
The number on the screen may look official. The name may even belong to a real Lane County sheriff's employee. Neither detail makes a demand for bail money, a jury-duty payment or a warrant fee legitimate.
The Lane County Sheriff's Office says the old impersonation scam has picked up again. Callers, texts and emails claim there is a warrant, missed jury duty or a jailed relative who can be released for payment. Some demands route people toward cryptocurrency, phone apps or kiosks; others ask for personal information while threatening arrest.
The sheriff's office says it will never ask for money by phone, text or email, will not call about missed jury duty and will not ask for payment to release someone. If a caller claims to be a deputy or staff member, hang up and call LCSO dispatch at 541-682-4150, option 1. Use that published number, not a callback number supplied by the caller.
Field notes
What changed: The Sheriff's Office reported a recent increase in long-running impersonation calls and repeated its verification instructions.
Why it matters: The scam can look convincing because callers may spoof official numbers, use real employee names and already know some personal information.
Who may be affected: Anyone receiving a call, text or email that claims to come from the Lane County Sheriff's Office, a court or a jail-related service.