Sanilac County Sheriff warns of an impersonation scam involving fake law enforcement demands for gift card payments.

Sanilac County Sheriff Warns of Widespread Phone Scam Involving Fake Warrants

SANILAC COUNTY, Mich. — A new phone scam has hit Sanilac County, and local authorities are warning residents not to fall for it. The Sanilac County Sheriff’s Office issued an alert on Thursday about fraudulent calls from someone claiming to be “Lieutenant Stevens,” a non-existent officer at the department. The caller accuses victims of being on the sex offender registry or having outstanding warrants and demands payment via prepaid Visa or gift cards.

“This is a scam,” the Sheriff’s Office declared in a notice sent June 5. The statement stresses that the department does not employ anyone named Lieutenant Stevens and that legitimate law enforcement will never demand payment over the phone using gift cards or other prepaid methods.

Scammers Are Demanding Gift Cards in Fake Arrest Threats

According to the Sheriff’s Office, victims are being directed to retailers like Walmart to purchase prepaid gift cards. Once the cards are activated, the victims are told to provide the card numbers to the caller.

The scam preys on fear and confusion. Victims are falsely told that they are either subject to arrest or must pay fines immediately to avoid legal consequences. The scammer’s tactics are designed to cause panic and extract payment before the victim has time to verify the caller’s identity.

The Sheriff’s Office is urging residents to be especially vigilant and to hang up immediately if they receive such a call. No government agency, including law enforcement, will request money through instant payment methods like prepaid cards, they said.

Senior Citizens and Vulnerable Residents May Be Most At Risk

The department is asking residents to share this warning widely, particularly with senior citizens and vulnerable individuals who may be more susceptible to intimidation tactics. Scammers often target older adults by preying on their trust in authority and fear of legal trouble.

This style of fraud—impersonating police officers to scare victims into compliance—has become more common nationwide. In many cases, victims are embarrassed to report what happened, making it difficult for local law enforcement to track the full extent of the damage.

Sanilac County’s Reminder: Law Enforcement Will Never Ask for Prepaid Cards

This scam mirrors similar schemes across the country where callers impersonate officers, court officials, or government agents. These fraudulent operations often use spoofed phone numbers to appear legitimate, sometimes displaying local law enforcement numbers on caller ID.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Michigan Attorney General’s Office have repeatedly advised the public that no official agency will ever ask for payment in gift cards. These warnings remain relevant as scam artists continue to evolve their tactics.

How Residents Can Protect Themselves and Report the Scam

The Sanilac County Sheriff’s Office advises the following actions:

Hang up immediately if someone calls claiming to be from law enforcement and demands payment.
Do not give out any personal or financial information over the phone.
Report the call to the Sheriff’s Office or submit a complaint through the FTC Complaint Assistant at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/.

The Sheriff’s Office also recommends residents enable call blocking on mobile devices and screen unknown calls to reduce exposure to these scams.

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