The Lassen County Sheriff’s Office is warning area residents to be alert after receiving numerous reports of scammers making fraudulent calls related to alleged outstanding warrants for arrest.
According to the agency, the callers are identifying themselves as a Peace Officer with the LCSO and using names of current employees.
The caller is soliciting payments for outstanding warrants.
The phone number used appears to come from a local (530) area code and the scammer is also utilizing California Penal Codes and California Civil Codes.
The LCSO does not take payments for fines in the form of credit cards, gift cards and does not make collection phone calls. Calls such as these are fraudulent. Do not make payments to the caller.
One thing all of these types of scams have in common is that they always try to keep the caller on the line at all costs. They pressure the caller with an urgency to send money or credit card information or else they will be arrested. The Sheriff’s Office says, “Do not give in to their pressure tactics! Independently verify what they are telling you is true.”
The scam callers present themselves as professionals and are smooth talkers.
The agency suggests that if someone calls and represents themselves in a way described above, ask them for their name and phone number and tell them you will call back after verifying with your local law enforcement agency. Don’t be a victim. If something doesn’t feel right about the call, listen to your instincts and take steps to verify.
