Editor’s note: This public service announcement was posted to the Whitewater Police Department Facebook page.

On Friday, July 21, 2023 The Whitewater Police Department received a report of an internet/phone scam from a resident of Whitewater. The victim reported that a pop-up on their computer directed them to call a phone number and speak with someone from Microsoft. The scammer accused the victim of financial crimes, and later the victim received a call from someone pretending to be with the “Federal Government Treasury Department” and F.B.I. The scammer instructed the victim to stay on the phone, and assisted the victim with placing an order for over $200,000 worth of gold bars online, and wire the money through a local bank. Thankfully this scam was interrupted before it was completed.

We are asking residents of Whitewater to be aware of internet and phone scams. Please be skeptical of any internet or phone communication that is asking for, or trying to give money. Contact the Whitewater Police Department if you suspect you are the victim of a scam.

Editor’s note: The following press release regarding a similar scam was received from the Rock County Sheriff’s Department.

Scam Calls Impersonating Former Sheriff

Over the past couple days, the Rock County Communications Center reported phone
calls from four citizens throughout the State of Wisconsin indicating they received scam
calls from an alleged “Deputy Sheriff Spoden” with the Rock County Sheriff’s Office.
In each case, the caller is a male, with a southern accent and has left messages for some
people indicating they need to return his call regarding an urgent legal matter. The calls
also came from the same phone number which appears to be untraceable voiceover IP
number likely spoofed from the internet.

In one instance where someone actually answered the phone, the suspect advised a
woman she missed a court proceeding and needed to drive directly to the Rock County
Sheriff’s Office while staying on the phone with him for the entire drive, which would have
been over two hours in length. While deputies and investigators from the Rock County
Sheriff’s Office sometimes schedule meetings over the phone, we would never require
someone to stay on the phone with us the entire time and travel such great distances to
do so.

This has happened in the past where suspects have used the names of current Rock
County Sheriff’s Office employees in attempts to defraud people. In this case, the name
used was of former Sheriff Spoden who has since retired from office.

In the event any citizens have received any recent calls similar in nature, or any time
someone receives a call where the origin and validity seem questionable, the Sheriff’s
Office would like to be notified. Members of the public can call the non-emergency
number for the Rock County Communications Center at (608) 757-2244.