Authorities Warn About Egregious Scams In Riverside County

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Authorities are warning residents about two separate scams hitting Riverside County.

Last week, the Riverside County Assessor-Clerk-Recorder’s Office advised property owners to carefully review any mailed notice requesting payment for property records, property profiles, or copies of recorded deeds.

The office has received inquiries from residents who received such letters. While the letters may include accurate public record information, some are sent by private companies and are not issued by the Riverside County Assessor-Clerk-Recorder, the agency reported.

“When a document is recorded with our office, that information becomes part of the public record,” said Peter Aldana, Riverside County Assessor-Clerk-Recorder. “Some private companies use publicly available information to send letters requesting payment for copies of documents. These letters are not from our office. If you receive a notice about your property and are unsure whether it is official, contact us before sending any payment. We can verify the notice and provide official copies directly.”

Riverside County property owners are reminded:

• The County does not send unsolicited letters demanding payment for property profiles or similar reports.
• The County does not require payment through third-party companies to obtain property records.
• Official copies of recorded documents are available directly from the Riverside County Assessor-Clerk-Recorder.

Residents who have questions about a notice related to their property are encouraged to contact the Riverside County Assessor-Clerk-Recorder’s Office before submitting payment or sharing personal information. For assistance, call (951) 955-6200 or visit www.rivcoacr.org.

In a separate scam uncovered by state officials, fraudsters are demanding immediate payment from residents for alleged traffic or toll tickets.

On Monday, California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a consumer alert warning Golden State residents to beware of a scam involving fake court notices demanding payment.

These notices, often received via text or email, state that there is an outstanding traffic or toll violation and instruct recipients to pay a fine, or appear in court or face other penalties.

These notices are scams, the AG’s office warned.

“Courts will not text, call, or email you to ask for money. If you receive this type of notice, do not access the QR code, click on any hyperlinks, or attempt to make a payment. Instead, check directly with the court that allegedly sent the notice to confirm that no case exists and no payment is required,” the AG’s office reported.

Attorney General Bonta said, “If you receive a text or email asking you for payment or personal information, pause and assess the message — scammers will weaponize urgency and make you feel like you are in the wrong and need to act immediately. Be suspicious of texts or emails asking you for personal information or money. No matter how official-looking they might seem, always double-check the status of traffic tickets directly with the court at courts.ca.gov/find-my-court. Stay safe, California!”

The AG’s office issued tips to avoid this scam and how to report it:

If You Receive a Possible Scam Text:

• DO NOT CLICK ON THE LINK.
• File a complaint with the FBI, the Federal Trade Commission, and/or our office. Be sure to include the phone number from which the text originated and the website listed within the text.
• Delete the scam texts received.
• Secure your personal information and financial accounts. If you clicked any link or provided your information, take efforts to secure your personal information and financial accounts. Dispute any unfamiliar charges.

Courts Will Never:

• Ask for payment by text, phone, or email.
• Ask for your credit card or bank account information by text or email.
• Send payment links for tickets by text.

How to Safely Check a Traffic Ticket:

• On your local court’s traffic website.
• By logging into your court’s traffic case portal.
• By calling the court directly using a trusted number. Only pay through the official court website or in person at the courthouse.

Bonta has previously warned Californians of text-based scams, including toll charge, parking, and package delivery scams. To report a scam to the AG, visit oag.ca.gov/contact/general-contact-form.