Our community continues to be targeted by phone scammers identifying themselves as employees of the Lane County Sheriff’s Office, typically claiming to be sergeants. Scammers have in the past also used text and email.  The Lane County Sheriff’s Office will NEVER ask for money by phone, text, or email!  The Lane County Sheriff’s Office will NEVER call you about missed jury duty!  The Lane County Sheriff’s Office will NEVER ask you to pay for someone to be released!  If you are contacted by someone claiming to be a deputy, sergeant or staff member, tell them you plan to call LCSO dispatch at 541-682-4150 to verify.  A real deputy will understand, a scammer will not.  Scammers claim there are warrants, missed jury duty, or unsettled legal issues. They may also offer to take bail money so family members in our jail may be released. Scammers then ask for payment or personal information, often threatening arrest. They usually offer to take payment digitally, through cryptocurrency, phone apps, or at a kiosk.  In some instances, the scammers appear to call from official phone numbers or provide fraudulent callback numbers with official-sounding voicemail inboxes. They often already have some personal information based on the phone number they called.  If you are contacted by someone claiming to be a Lane County Sheriff's Office employee and you think you are being scammed, HANG UP.  Then contact our dispatch center at 541-682-4150 opt. 1. The Lane County Sheriff’s Office wants to protect you and your property. Please share with your friends and family. This scam has been around for years, and people are still falling for it despite efforts by all local law enforcement to educate the public.