Crime & Safety
Scam Alert: Fraudsters Impersonate Alameda County Sheriff's Employees
A recent target of a scam attempt out-smarted the caller, prompting the scammer to hang up.
ALAMEDA COUNTY — The Alameda County Sheriff's Office is warning residents about a phone scam that involved the caller falsely identifying themselves as a sheriff's office employee. The person claimed to be calling about a missed Federal Grand Jury Summons. The caller gave an option of paying a fine or meeting in person to discuss the matter.
When asked to read the summons, the caller offered to send the information by text instead of reading it. When the savvy resident asked why a county law enforcement agency would call about a federal matter, the caller hung up.
The sheriff's office said that if you receive such a call, text, or email, do not provide the requested information. Notify the Clerk of Court's office of the U.S. District Court immediately.
No local, state, or federal law enforcement agency will ever contact you for payment for missed court appearances or citations in lieu of arrest or a warrant issuance, including the sheriff's office.
Even if the caller sounds convincing because they (1) call from a local telephone number, (2) refer to you by name, or (3) have other personal information about you, it is a scam.
The standard collection methods for scammers are Bitcoin, Western Union/electronic funds transfer, MoneyPak/Green Dot, and Vanilla Reload.
Never agree to send money or meet up with someone from an unsolicited call, email, or text. Instead, contact your local law enforcement for assistance if you believe you are the target/victim of a scam.
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