Scammers are impersonating Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office employees using artificial intelligence, and the office says the problem is getting worse.
The Sheriff's Office warned residents Tuesday, Sept. 1 that it has seen a rise in phone calls, emails and text messages from people falsely claiming to work for the department. The scammers now use AI and other technology to mimic the office's real contact information, making the messages look legitimate.
The tactics follow a pattern. Callers or message senders demand that recipients send money, buy gift cards or hand over other payments. They threaten the recipient, or someone the recipient knows, with arrest, incarceration or other penalties for not complying.
The Sheriff's Office emphatically told residents the scam contacts are not from them. Commander H. Eugene "Geno" Rush of the Sheriff's Office's Community Engagement Division said in the release that the office does not and will not ask anyone for money, gift cards or financial compensation directed to any individual employee or to the office itself.
No legitimate deputy or staff member will call demanding payment.
Scam pattern dates to 2024
The impersonation scam pattern is not new in Washtenaw County. In October 2024, the Sheriff's Office warned about callers posing as law enforcement officers. Those scammers cited missed court dates or jury duty to pressure residents into giving up personal information.
What has changed is the technology. The office said scammers are now using AI to make their communications appear more convincing, though it did not specify whether that involves voice cloning, spoofed caller ID or AI-generated text.
MLive also reported on the scam increase on Monday, Aug. 31.
What to do if you're contacted
The Sheriff's Office urged residents to stop, think, check and verify any communication before responding. Before providing any personal or financial information to someone claiming to represent the office, residents should call Metro Dispatch at 734-994-2911 or dial 911 to confirm whether the contact is real.
