Scammers posing as DuPage County sheriff's deputies are calling residents with fake threats of arrest, and the sheriff's office says the scams are "still on the rise."
The DuPage County Sheriff's Office issued the warning Monday, July 20, 2026, urging residents across the county to watch for the calls. The agency serves Downers Grove, Woodridge, and Westmont.
How the scams work
Callers claim to be agents from the sheriff's office or other law enforcement agencies. They use the names of real deputies and agents to sound credible, according to the sheriff's office.
The agency identified three common scripts:
- The caller tells the victim they missed jury duty or a court appearance.
- The caller claims the victim has an outstanding warrant.
- The caller says a relative has been arrested and needs money.
In each case, the goal is to pressure the victim into handing over cash or personal information.
Downers Grove resident targeted in March
On Monday, March 9, 2026, the Downers Grove Police Department responded to a report of the same type of scam. A resident received a call from someone claiming to be a Downers Grove police officer and demanding several thousand dollars to resolve a supposed legal matter. That resident walked into the police station to verify the call before making any payment.
The Downers Grove Police Department advised residents in a March 12, 2026, statement not to provide any personal or financial information to suspicious callers and to hang up immediately.
The pattern extends beyond DuPage County. On Wednesday, July 1, 2026, Tinley Park Police Chief Thomas Tilton said his department in neighboring Cook County was investigating identical calls. "We want our residents to know that the Tinley Park Police Department will never call residents for missing jury duty, nor will we ever threaten arrest over the phone for doing so," Tilton said in a statement that day.
The same principle applies locally. No legitimate law enforcement agency will demand payment over the phone or threaten immediate arrest for missing jury duty.
What to do if you get a suspicious call
The sheriff's office says residents who believe they are being targeted should hang up immediately. Do not give out personal or financial information.
To verify whether a call from the sheriff's office is real, residents can call the DuPage County Sheriff's Office directly at 630-407-2400. Downers Grove residents can also reach their local police department at 630-434-5600.
Scam incidents can be reported to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
