The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office said on April 16 that it has received dozens of calls from community members reporting illegitimate text messages claiming to be from law enforcement. These messages tell recipients they are scheduled for a court appearance within 24 hours and threaten penalties such as significant fines or immediate arrest if they do not comply.
The sheriff’s office confirmed that these texts are not legitimate. Officials said scammers often use urgent and alarming tactics to pressure people into sending money or sharing personal information. “The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office wants to remind community members that scammers can be very convincing and often use these high-pressure tactics to exploit people. Additionally, the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office does not use text messages to let people know about court appearances,” the agency said in a statement.
Community members are advised not to send money or share sensitive information with unknown individuals or agencies without verifying requests through official channels. The sheriff’s office also recommends against using contact information or links provided in suspicious messages, and encourages anyone unsure about an officer’s identity to hang up and call their local non-emergency dispatch center for verification.
Officials urge residents to remain vigilant when receiving unsolicited, high-pressure communications by phone, email, or text message. Previous warnings from the sheriff’s office have addressed similar scams targeting families of adults in custody and so-called “smishing” text message schemes impersonating law enforcement officers.
The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office continues to monitor scam activity and reminds the public that all legitimate notifications regarding court appearances will come through official channels.
