File Photo – McHenry County Sheriff’s Office | Photo: Alex Vucha

The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents of a phone scam after a police impersonator reportedly called residents to ask for bond money.

McHenry County College employees reported receiving phone calls and voicemails asking them to contact “Captain Terry Alexander” of the sheriff’s office regarding an urgent civil matter.

When an unsuspecting resident calls the number, a recording plays that mimics the sheriff’s office with an option to speak to “Captain Terry Alexander,” the sheriff’s office said.

When the caller selects that option, a person asks the caller for “bond money.”

“Captain Terry Alexander” does not exist. Officials are warning residents of this scam.

“The Sheriff’s Office will NEVER call asking for money. If you receive a suspicious voicemail from an unknown number, ignore it. DO NOT call the number back,” the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office said in a social media post on Friday.

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“Best practice is to always ignore calls from numbers you don’t recognize. If you’re unsure, search the number. Most real companies will have a website which lists their number,” the sheriff’s office added.

Officials are urging residents to talk to their family and friends, especially the elderly, and warn them of these types of phone scams.