A phone scammer is calling East Lansing residents, claiming to work for an agency that doesn't exist and demanding money for a fake warrant.
The East Lansing Police Department issued the warning Wednesday, Sept. 30, saying in a Facebook post that someone is posing as a sergeant from the "East Lansing Sheriff's Department." No such agency exists. East Lansing has its own police department, while the Ingham County Sheriff's Office serves at the county level.
The scammer tells people they have an outstanding warrant and asks them to pay bond over the phone or by wire transfer, according to the department.
"The ELPD does not contact people over the phone to inform them of warrants. We never take bond money over the phone or over the internet," the department said in the post.
The warning was also reported by WILX.
Anyone who receives a suspicious call should hang up without sharing personal or financial information and contact the East Lansing Police Department directly at (517) 351-4220.
A pattern across Ingham County
The East Lansing warning is the latest in a series of law enforcement impersonation scams targeting the Lansing area in 2026.
The Ingham County Sheriff's Office has issued multiple alerts this year. In January, the office warned of a caller demanding $75,000 in cash for an alleged federal warrant tied to missed jury duty. In February, a scammer posed as "Lieutenant Dan Green" and told residents to meet at a convenience store to pay in bitcoin. In May, the office said on X that callers were using the names Sgt. Johnson, Sgt. Hicks and Corporal Ryan Hagar, none of whom work there.
By August, the sheriff's office warned of yet another variant: a caller claiming to be "Lt. Bray Donsheu" directed victims to drive to the sheriff's office, then pivoted and told them to buy gift cards and read the numbers over the phone. The office noted scammers can falsify the name on caller ID, WILX reported.
Meridian Township police issued a similar warning Sept. 2 about callers impersonating officers and demanding $1,200. Michigan State University police followed Sept. 24 with an alert about fake job offers and fraudulent payment demands.
What residents should do
The East Lansing Police Department advises residents to:
- Never pay someone claiming to be law enforcement over the phone or online.
- Never share personal or financial information with an unsolicited caller.
- Hang up and call the agency directly using a number you look up yourself.
For non-emergencies, the East Lansing Police Department can be reached at (517) 351-4220.
