Police Phone Scam: Avoid Being A Target In San Juan Capistrano

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA — Scammers are again on the prowl in Orange County, according to reports from the Newport Beach police department. Here's what happened, and how you can avoid getting scammed in San Juan Capistrano.

"On Friday, we were notified by some of our community members that they had received calls from an individual claiming to work for the Police Department who requested their addresses and personal information," a spokesperson for the Newport Beach Police Department said.

The Caller ID on these phone calls looked like they were legitimate Police Department phone numbers with the proper area code for Newport Beach.

"Residents who contacted us directly were able to confirm that these calls did not come from our department," Newport Beach Police Department Spokeswoman Heather Rangel said.

When you get a call from an unknown number, ask yourself... is the caller who you think it is?

"Scammers are good at pretending to be someone they're not," according to Rangel.

They can be convincing, she says. Sometimes the caller can manipulate Caller ID, using information from social networking sites, or by hacking into email accounts, to make it seem more real.

"They'll pressure you or play on your emotions to get personal information or money from you," she says.

Here's what you can do:

1. Stop. Check it out. For calls from alleged government agencies or utility companies: Do not give out any personal information until you have verified the caller's identity. A
   1. Ask the caller for their name, department, and business phone number. THEN Confirm that information by calling the organization at a phone number found on the internet or through official correspondence/billing statements.
   2. If the caller refuses to provide this information, terminate the call immediately.
2. Keep your information safe. Never give out personal identifying information to anyone you do not know, such as your social security number, bank account, or credit card account numbers.
3. Pass this information on to a friend. You may not have received one of these calls, but the chances are that you know someone who will - if they haven't already.

Have you been the victim of a phone scam? Tell us what happened, and if you avoided it, we want to learn how! Email your Patch Orange County editor with your story for a chance to be featured in a future Patch story.