The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office would like all residents to be aware of a telephone scam that can happen to you.
“The most recent scam involves a person claiming to be a Deputy, Sergeant, Lieutenant or any other ranking officer for the Sheriff’s Office. The individual is telling people that they missed jury duty and/or there is a warrant for their arrest. The person is also telling people that they need to purchase a Pre-Paid Credit Card and give the individual the account number on the card by calling a phone number.
Law Enforcement does not require anyone to pay fines or penalties over the phone, nor will they contact you to do so using pre-paid credit cards or wire transfers. Any legitimate fines or fees are paid in person at one of our stations, or at Clerks Offices at County Courthouses.
Do not reveal or confirm personal information to the scammer. They are masters of manipulation. The Scammer may have some general information about you, usually obtained through illegal means. They are counting on your natural desire to be cooperative, in order to fill in the blanks. This can lead to further complications, such as Identity Theft.
If you are suspicious of a caller who claims to be Law Enforcement or from the Federal Government, get a name and badge/ID number and call the agency they claim to be from. Do not use the call back number on the phone or one they provide. If the caller demands money, it’s a scam.”
Please be cautious. If you have any questions you can always call the Santa Clara County Sherriff at (408) 808-4400.
If you believe you have been the victim of a scam:
Report the information to the FRAUD Hotline immediately – they will help you with the next steps of where to go and what to do.
Call the appropriate law enforcement agency to improve the government’s data as well as its ability to prosecute the perpetrators of these scams.
Block the phone number.
Screen all incoming calls.
If you are interested in learning more about these scam calls, speak with a Community Resource Specialist: (408) 350-3200, option 1.