Scammers Impersonating Sheriff’s Office Victimize Two Livermore Residents

LIVERMORE, CA — The Livermore Police Department is warning the community about a jury duty scam that recently duped two Livermore residents. In the scam, a victim is contacted by phone by a suspect who identifies himself as a lieutenant or sergeant with the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office. The caller tells the citizen they failed to report for jury duty and they have been assessed a fine.

The caller then says there is a warrant out for the citizen’s arrest, and they must report to court. The citizen is also told to obtain a prepaid money or debit card, to give the caller the number over the phone and that paying the fine will result in the warrant being dismissed.

Police say tracking these would-be scammers is virtually impossible because the often suspects use pre-paid cellular phones and avoid all physical contact with victims by conducting the transactions over the phone.

Officials want to advise citizens that the Jury Services unit of the Alameda County Superior Court does not contact citizens by phone for payments of fines. The court typically sends a notice to the citizen before taking any action. Police say California law prohibits citizens from paying a fine in lieu of jury service.

Police discourage anyone from giving out their personal information over the phone. Register your home and mobile phone numbers with the National Do Not Call Registry.

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Bay City News contributed to this report.

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