The Sheriff’s Department is warning about a new scourge of telephone scams being run here in our Morongo Basin. Reporter Taylor Thacker tells you how to protect yourself…
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department would like to remind citizens of the increasing frequency of telephone scams occurring throughout our county and others. One of the recent scams involves a person impersonating an official from a government agency requesting payment for alleged outstanding warrants or jury absences. Government officials will never call or email requesting any such payments or ask for personal information over the phone. The following tips may help protect you from being a victim of these scams:
• Never reveal any personal information when speaking to an unsolicited caller.
• Verify the person’s identity. Ask for their name and other pertinent details. If they claim to work for a specific county or city, hang up and call the alleged organization at a number you know is correct.
• Caller ID numbers can be spoofed. Don’t trust a number just because it seems to be local.
Persons receiving calls similar to the one described above are encouraged to call the local Police/Sheriff’s Department to report the incident.
