Phone scammers pose as cops

Coeur d’Alene-based Intermax President Mike Kennedy has become an unwilling expert on scam calls from “the sheriff’s department.”

Listen to his voicemail recording from a “Fake Sheriff’s Department” employee who called his home today and left a voicemail - “as they have over and over,” he said.

“Being in the telecommunications business, I kept their voicemail, then recorded my phone call back to the ‘Sheriff’s Department’ phone number they included (208-209-7941) to see how far they took it. I’m not at all surprised but still fascinated by how far they go to spoof this, and the ease of doing it and the sophistication to trap people increases.”

Kennedy shared his voicemail joy with Sheriff Ben Wolfinger, who noted that the scammers used the name of an actual captain - but one who had retired.

Listen to the scammer’s voicemail here. Kennedy’s response can be heard here.