Residents Report Receiving Phone Call From Someone Claiming to be FBI Agent, Then Asking for Money

The Marin County Sheriff's Office is warning residents about a scam in which a suspect is posing as an FBI agent and asking locals to send money overseas.

The office has received two complaints about a man who phoned residents and said he's working with the Sheriff’s Office on a lottery fraud investigation. He then said their winnings had been stolen and asked them to wire money to that agent to secure their winnings so they can be properly returned to them and proceeded to give the number of an account based overseas.

In both cases, the name of an actual Marin County Sheriffs’ Office official was used to bolster the legitimacy of the suspect's claim. 

Fraud is a growing problem for all law enforcement agencies, with older people often targeted. The Sheriff's Office is reminding residents to not give out any personal or banking information to unknown callers and never wire money.

When it doubt, it's best to refuse the request and contact your local law enforcement agency for assistance.

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