"Law enforcement" phone scam now affecting folks in Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- FOX6 has learned a scam law enforcement officials have been warning folks about this summer is still impacting people in the Milwaukee area, and throughout southeastern Wisconsin. The scam involves callers posing as law enforcement officials making threats.

Kimberly Walker got an unusual phone call on Monday, September 9th.

"I almost fell for it because I was really nervous. He said his name was Sheriff John E. Walker and he was calling and wanted to speak to my mom," Walker told FOX6 News.

Walker's mom is elderly, and recovering from a stroke. Still, the caller said he had a warrant for her arrest from the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office. He said the 74-year-old woman missed jury duty.

"I'm like, 'we didn't receive anything in the mail so how is that possible?'  He said 'well, she had an appointment for jury duty, she missed it, so it's gonna cost you $500,'" Walker said.

The man on the phone told Walker she had to pay $500 for missing jury duty, and another $500 to drop the warrant.

"Then that's when I told him, 'just come on over and pick her up then!' Because I said, 'no this can't be true,'" Walker said.

Both the Sheriff's Office and the Clerk of Courts assured Walker the call was a scam. Her daughter called the man back to give him a piece of her mind.

I'm like 'well you called my house and you said my grandma had a warrant out for her arrest and that's not true. I'm gonna report you. I'm reporting this number.' He's like 'if you report this number I'm still gonna come pick her up.' I said 'well you come pick her up then,'" Vanisha Walker said.

One day later, she called the number again, and heard the following message: "The number you dialed has been changed, disconnected or is no longer in service."

The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office is investigating one complaint of a scam phone call.

The Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department says a phone scam in the area has been going on since at least July -- targeting residents in Waukesha, Caledonia and Kenosha.