WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A recent spike in scam calls has robbed community members of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

That’s according to What-Comm 911 Dispatch, which says it’s had a major influx of scam victims call in over the past few days.

Th elaborate scams include the phone number showing up as the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office caller ID, with scammers using the names of actual law enforcement officers.

Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Deb Slater adds that the scammers are now using real names from jail bookings to target family and friends with the false promise of releasing their loved ones from jail.

Anyone who receives a suspected scam call should immediately hang up and contact the law enforcement agency in question.

The Sheriff’s Office reiterates that it will never call you to demand money, gift cards, bitcoin or threaten you with arrest.