Lincoln Police warn public of elaborate dating scam involving the sheriff’s office

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — The Lincoln Police Department is warning the public about a dating scam in which scammers are claiming to be Lancaster County Sheriff Terry Wagner.

On Thursday, a 24-year-old Lincoln man told police he started texting with a woman he met on the app Plenty of Fish.

The person claimed to be 19 and started sending explicit images, LPD said.

Shortly after, the victim got a call from someone claiming to be with the sheriff’s office saying that the woman was actually a minor and that her parents wanted to press charges.

When police officers called back the number, the voicemail claimed to be “Terry Wagner with the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office.”

According to LPD, the victim also received text messages from other numbers claiming to be from the woman’s father. The scammer asking for money to avoid criminal action and to pay for therapy.

LPD said the victim did not send any money, deleted the app, reported the incident to police and blocked the numbers.

If you or someone you know is contacted by someone claiming to be law enforcement and the interaction seems suspicious, do not share personal information or send money.

LPD said to hang up and independently verify an officer’s identity by calling police at 402-441-6000 or the sheriff’s office at 402-441-6500.

Any internet-based scams can be reported to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center here.