Scammer poses as police officer

The Sheridan Police Department has received a report of a scam in which an individual has claimed to be a Sheridan police officer.

According to a release from Lt. Tom Ringley, the suspect called using a fraudulently generated phone number that initially mimicked the police department’s non-emergency number. The suspect said the victim’s business was under investigation for receiving fraudulent currency and told the victim to buy gift cards and electronically transmit the gift card information.

According to Ringley, the victim did as requested. Ringley said the identity of the victim and the business are being withheld for purposes of privacy.

Ringley said the Sheridan Police Department will never request the electronic transfer of currency in any form. He also reminds people to never provide their personal information to anyone they do not know or trust.

Ringley asks that anyone contacted in a similar manner to the reported scam to report it to police as soon as possible. He said the case is currently under investigation.