Richland County Dispatch has received numerous reports from local citizens regarding scam calls. The caller claims to be “Lieutenant Smith” with the Richland County Sheriff ‘s Office, then says that the person they are talking to has a warrant or missed a court date. These calls are not from our office.
If you receive this call, please hang up immediately and do not share any personal information.
The Sauk County Sheriff’s Office has taken several calls recently concerning someone calling local businesses claiming to be law enforcement. They give a name, but it is not anyone from any law enforcement agency in Sauk county.
The caller states one of the employees from the business has been arrested and they need to be bailed out. Eventually the caller will ask for gift cards from Walmart or other retail locations.
LAW ENFOREMENT WILL NEVER CALL AND ASK YOU TO GET GIFT CARDS TO BAIL SOMEONE OUT. THEY DO NOT ACCEPT GIFT CARDS AS A FORM OF PAYMENT TO BAIL SOMEONE OUT.
If you receive a call from anyone claiming to be law enforcement and you’re not sure if it is a legitimate call, contact your local law enforcement to verify the information.
Don’t ever give out credit card information, bank account information, or go and buy gift cards. This is a good indication it is a scam.

Adam Hess has been involved in radio broadcasting since 1990, with many of those years spent on the air at WRCO FM in Richland Center. Currently, Adam hosts the Weekend Wake-up and Prime Mover Saturdays on WRCO FM, jumps in and helps out with news duties, handles Social Media duties for WRCO and WRCE, and is the Director of Technology at a Southwest Wisconsin School District. Reach him at adam.hess@civicmedia.us.
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