Whidbey Islanders beware of unsolicited phone calls from payday loan institutions. A rash of scam calls were reported to the Island County Sheriff’s Office, which led Sheriff Mark Brown to issue a county-wide warning.

Callers claim to represent lending institutions and offer to consolidate bills with a low-interest loan. The scammers offer to process the fees a real company that is difficult for law enforcement to track.

Brown cautions county residents to research the validity of any solicitors. If in doubt, call the attorney general’s office or a local law enforcement agency before taking any action.