Scammers posing as DuPage County sheriff's deputies are calling Wheaton-area residents, demanding money and threatening arrest, the DuPage County Sheriff's Office warned in a public alert posted to its official Facebook page around Friday, July 18.
The callers claim victims have missed jury duty, have an outstanding arrest warrant, skipped a court appearance, or have a family member in custody who needs bond money. They frequently use the names of real government employees to sound legitimate, the sheriff's office said.
The most important thing for residents to know: no law enforcement agency will ever call, text, or email demanding immediate payment to avoid arrest.
How the scam works
Scammers identify themselves as DCSO deputies or agents from other law enforcement agencies, then pressure victims to pay immediately. The sheriff's office said callers often demand thousands of dollars to "quash" a supposed warrant.
The tactic has hit DuPage County before. In an October 2025 Facebook post, Sheriff James Mendrick and Undersheriff Eddie Moore issued an urgent warning after the office began receiving multiple calls daily from residents who had been contacted by someone claiming to be a deputy. In that wave, scammers left voicemails instructing victims to call back a number that played a recorded message mimicking the sheriff's office, complete with menu prompts to speak with a "deputy."
The July 2026 warning indicates the scam remains active across the county.
Other agencies in the region are dealing with the same problem. Tinley Park Police Chief Thomas Tilton confirmed on Tuesday, July 1, that multiple residents in that south suburb had received similar calls threatening arrest for missed jury duty. Law enforcement agencies in Nebraska and New York issued comparable warnings the same month.
What to do if you get a suspicious call
The sheriff's office advises residents to:
- Hang up immediately.
- Do not share personal or financial information.
- Call the DuPage County Sheriff's Office directly at 630-407-2400 to verify whether the call was real.
- Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
The DCSO has not said how many DuPage County residents have reported these calls or lost money in 2026. Residents with questions can reach the sheriff's office at 630-407-2400.
