Maricopa County Sheriff’s deputies received three reports last week from residents who were threatened with jail if they did not come up with money to pay for alleged traffic fines.

They all appeared to be scams.

On Thursday, July 31, a woman reported a man came to her door saying he was with the court and if she did not go to a store and obtain a “money card” for $497.22 someone would be back later to arrest her.

She said the man refused to identify himself and after he left she called the Sheriff’s Office. Deputies said she was visibly shaken by the incident, in which the scammer said she had received a photo radar ticket.

The two other incidents, one on Thursday, July 31, and the other Friday, Aug. 1, were similar in that they asked for the money card for exactly the same amount. However, each of those women was contacted by telephone and the caller identified himself as “Sgt. Brian Lindsey.”

One of those ladies went to a local drug store to obtain the money card, but was told by employees there to call MCSO and report the incident.

The other woman was in the process of moving out of town and simply called MCSO to clarify.

In one instance the caller told the victim the photo radar was taken in Fountain Hills near Palisades and Shea boulevards. There are no photo radar units in Fountain Hills.

*On Monday, July 21, a woman reported someone had used her credit card information for fraudulent transactions totaling more than $2,000.

*On Wednesday, July 23, a Fountain Hills man reported someone had broken into his vehicle while it was parked in his garage in the 9000 block of Monterey Drive. He reported his wallet with bank cards and a GPS unit taken from the truck as well as a bag containing softball equipment valued at about $1,700.

*On Tuesday, July 29, a business in the 16000 block of Parkview Avenue reported someone had damaged the window of the storefront.

*On Wednesday, July 30, deputies were called to investigate a collision at Panorama Drive and Saguaro Boulevard. One driver involved reported he pulled behind another vehicle waiting for the light to change to green. When it did the front driver did not move so the second driver pulled around on the left and turned right in front of the vehicle, which was moving by then and struck his car. The other driver left the scene and there was minor damage.

*On Aug. 1, deputies assisted child protective services regarding a case of possible child abuse that was reported by a doctor at Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

*On Friday, Aug. 1, a Fountain Hills man reported the theft of lawn ornaments from his residence by a Mesa woman. The woman had come to the home to retrieve items left by her grandmother who had been renting from the victim.

*On Friday, Aug. 1, a Fountain Hills woman reported someone had thrown eggs at her home in the 14000 block of Teakwood.

*On Saturday, Aug. 2, a woman living in the Goldfield Ranch area reported finding a dead llama wrapped in a tarp along the road entering the Goldfield area. Deputies found the animal and reported it to animal crimes. They found no sign of trauma and the animal crimes unit did not immediately respond.