SLO County police release more details on $10,000 scam using Uber driver
A San Luis Obispo County resident was scammed out of more than $10,000 this week — and the Paso Robles Police Department revealed more information about the case on Friday.
The scammer called the resident pretending to be a deputy district attorney, police said.
“He told her that a relative had been involved in a traffic accident, had been arrested and needed $10,600 to be released from custody,” a news release from the police said.
The caller told the woman to withdraw the money from her bank, but instructed her not to talk about the accident. Instead, he told her to tell the bank that the money was for a contractor working on her house.
“After she withdrew the cash, the scammer continued to guide her step by step, including how to package the money,” the release said.
The scammer told the woman to him send the cash in an Uber that he arranged, and she complied.
On Wednesday, Paso Robles police conducted a welfare check at the residence after receiving a report of suspicious activity on an Uber app, Corporal Brenden Neary told The Tribune.
Upon arrival, police determined that the victim had been scammed out of more than $10,000 over the phone — and a third-party Uber driver had unknowingly been roped into collecting the money from the home, Neary said.
Police contacted the Uber driver and recovered the money, returning it to the victim of the scam, according to a Thursday news release.
“It was ultimately determined that the Uber driver had no knowledge of and was not involved in the scam,” the release said.
The Police Department warned members of the public that debt collectors and government organizations will not send couriers to their home to collect money, and said gift cards and cash should not be used to pay through a third party.
“This case highlights several common warning signs of scams,” the release said. “Scammers often create a sense of urgency, especially involving a loved one in trouble, to pressure victims into acting quickly.”
Police advised the public to confirm information shared in phone calls like this before taking action.
“Pause and verify the information by contacting your relative directly or calling a trusted official number of the business the scammer claims to be from,” the release said. “When in doubt, speak with bank staff or local law enforcement before taking any action.”
Anyone with information pertaining to the case was encouraged to contact the Paso Robles Police Department at 805-237-6464.
