BEWARE! L.A. Sheriff’s Department Warns of Impersonation Scam Using Spoofed Caller IDs

Officials from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department would like to warn the public about phone call scammers who use spoofing applications to impersonate L.A. County Deputies and display their number on the victim’s caller ID as the Sheriff’s office or local police organizations.

Residents in Los Angeles County continue to report receiving phone calls from scammers pretending to be a Sheriff’s Office Sergeant, Lieutenant, or Captain and want payment for missing a grand jury duty subpoena. The scammers will then request some form of electronic payment and threaten the callers with arrest if their payment is not received.

Remember that if you have an arrest warrant, the Sheriff’s Office will not call you.

To be informed about crime trends and safety tips, follow the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Headquarters social media profiles as well as your allocated patrol station.

Tips for avoiding scam calls:

* If you receive a questionable call, text, or email, check the contact’s identity using an impartial source such as an agency’s internet website, an online search engine, or a phone directory.

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Do not utilize the caller’s contact information from the message the scammers sent.

*Do not feel compelled by the threatening caller until you have confirmed their name and tale. You can ask the caller for their name, employee identification number, callback number, and a reference number for the issue they are calling about. This information can be used to contact the organization directly and confirm the authenticity of the request.

*It is okay to hang up, especially if you feel the call is a fraud.

*The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, like any other government entity, would never ask for payment or banking information over the phone.

*Financial transactions are normally conducted in person in courthouses and custody facilities.

*Never transfer money, bank account information, or other personal information to someone you do not know or trust.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department urges the public to stay safe and to contact their local law enforcement authorities if they believe they have been victims of these crimes.