A Free Public Service

SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is an inactive attorney in San Mateo County, California.

September 1, 2023

False Identification Scams

FALSE IDENTIFICATION SCAMS

Attribution: Federal Trade Commission

Scammers are at it again, this time pretending to be “Sheriff’s deputies” and threatening to arrest you for missing a court date.

The scam begins with a phone call from someone who says they’re a Sheriff’s deputy. He’ll say you missed a court date where you were supposed to give expert testimony. His tone is urgent, and he says you’ll be arrested unless you pay a fine — in cash or gift cards.

The scammer who called may use the name of a real officer or fake the caller ID to make their story more convincing. But the real officer isn’t calling. It’s a scammer who’s after your money.

To spot the scam, know this:

*Real law enforcement officers will never call to say you’re going to be arrested (or threaten to arrest you if you hang up).

*Real law enforcement officers will never demand that you pay fines by phone.

*Only scammers will call, text, or email demanding that you pay by cash, gift card, cryptocurrency, payment app, or a wire transfer service.

*The government will never do that.

 Don’t pay; don’t give the crook your personal information.

If you spot a scam, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

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