Callers pose as law enforcement, demand money in SLO County scam. What to know
If you receive a call from law enforcement asking for money to clear an outstanding warrant or avoid being arrested, it’s most likely a scam — and victims should “hang up immediately,” according to the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office.
A Friday news release warned community members about a “recently resurfaced” scam in the SLO County region, involving callers posing as law enforcement officials, appearing to call from real government agency phone numbers.
The scammers have reportedly told victims they have an outstanding warrant before demanding money to clear the warrant or avoid arrest.
“Scammers often ask for payment through apps such as Zelle, Venmo, PayPal, Apple Cash or other money transfer services,” the Sheriff’s Office said.
However, the Sheriff’s Office said it will “never call and demand payment over the phone to resolve a warrant or criminal matter.”
Victims who receive one of the calls should hang up and report it to their local law enforcement agency, the Sheriff’s Office said.
The agency warned community members not to send money or provide financial or personal information in response to one of the calls — and said not to trust the “caller ID” indicated during the call on its own.
“If you’re unsure whether a call is legitimate, contact the agency directly using a publicly listed phone number,” the Sheriff’s Office said.
A similar scam was previously reported by the Sheriff’s Office in May.
.JPG)