News release issued by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is reminding the public about criminals who are posing as government agencies as part of an extortion scam. The caller in these cases will typically demand payment and threaten the victim with some sort of legal action (arrest them or disrupt services) if the payment is not made. The caller will then instruct the victim to get a Money Order, conduct a wire transfer, or purchase some type of gift card to “pay the fine.”
Be Alert, Be advised, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department or any government agency will NEVER call and solicit money for fines. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department or any government agency will NEVER ask you to get a Money Order, gift card, or wire transfer. Phone Scam thieves will attempt to trick you into giving them money. DO NOT SEND MONEY!
Be Aware, Never, give your personal information to anyone over the phone. DO NOT give callers information about your bank accounts, pin numbers, Social Security numbers, or any type of identifying information. If you receive a phone call, always verify who the caller truly is. DO NOT use the number they provide you as verification.
If you receive a suspicious phone call/solicitation that you believe is not a real government agency, please contact the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) at (800) 593-8222. You can also file a complaint on the DCA website at dca.lacounty.gov.
If you have sent money or believe that you are a victim of a crime, please call your local Sheriff’s Station or Police Department and report the incident.
Authored by:
Lieutenant Jorge A. Valdez
Fraud & Cyber Crimes Bureau
562-946-7201
Forwarded by:
Waleska Bracks, Deputy
Sheriff’s Information
