The Lassen Superior Court is sounding the alarm this week following reports of a sophisticated phone scam targeting local residents. Scammers are increasingly posing as law enforcement and court officials in an attempt to intimidate victims into sending money through high-pressure tactics and the use of local details.
According to a press release from the Court, these callers often claim to represent the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office, the Susanville Police Department or other local agencies. To make the deception even more convincing, they may use the names of actual Lassen Superior Court judges and reference specific case information that is publicly accessible.
Residents should be aware that these criminals often spoof their Caller ID, making the call appear as if it is coming directly from the Court, a local agency or a dispatch center.
The scam typically involves a caller claiming that the victim has failed to appear in court, is in contempt, or has ignored a grand jury summons. In many cases, the fraudster will even tell the victim they are under a “gag order” and cannot discuss the matter with anyone else. They then threaten immediate arrest or lengthy jail time unless a payment is made instantly.
The Court warns that these scammers often demand unconventional payment methods that untraceable. They may direct a victim to withdraw cash from their bank, purchase gift cards, or use a barcode sent via text message to deposit cryptocurrency at a kiosk or store.
Lassen Superior Court officials want to remind the public that while the Court does have a Collections Department that may make legitimate calls, their procedures never involve these methods. The Court will never direct a resident to withdraw cash, send cash through the mail, purchase gift cards, or use cryptocurrency to settle a legal matter.
If you receive a suspicious call, the best course of action is to hang up immediately. Do not provide any personal or financial information over the phone, via email, or by text, and do not rely on the information displayed on your Caller ID.
If you are concerned about your legal status or a potential warrant, you should independently contact the appropriate agency using a verified public phone number found on an official government website. Residents are encouraged to share this information with friends and neighbors to help protect the community from these predatory tactics.
