Police say the scammers try to convince victims to buy Google Play cards
KCJJ Staff
03/01/19
Local officials say another phone scam is making the round pretending to be a state senator who is a former deputy.
Det. Sgt. Brad Kunkel with the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office says in a news release the callers use a phone number spoofing the Sheriff’s Office’s and the callers identify themselves as Lt. Kevin Kinney. Kinney is a retired sheriff’s deputy from Oxford who is not affiliated with the Sheriff’s Office. He’s currently serving his second term in the Iowa Senate after winning re-election last fall.
Kunkel says the scammers try to convince victims they have missed jury duty and may try to convince them to buy Google Play cards.
He says Kinney is in no way affiliated with the scam and if you receive such a call, you should not give out any personal information but should hang up immediately.
He adds as a reminder the Sheriff’s Office will not call you if you have missed jury duty and will not ask for any payment over the phone.