New Santa Ana | Tag Archives: Phone Scams

The SAPD issues a warning about IRS and Sheriff phone scams

Posted on February 18, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: Santa Ana Police Department Advisory – Phone Scams

The Santa Ana Police Department advises the public to be aware of two current phone scams involving suspects who pretend to be IRS or Orange County Sheriff’s Department employees. Since January 29th, 2015, the SAPD has several reported cases involving these scams where victims have lost approximately $10,000.

IRS-Impersonation Telephone Scam:

An aggressive and sophisticated phone scam targeting taxpayers, including recent immigrants, has been making the rounds throughout the country. Callers claim to be employees of the IRS, but are not. These con artists can sound convincing when they call. They use fake names and bogus IRS identification badge numbers. They may know a lot about their targets, and they usually alter the caller ID to make it look like the IRS is calling. Continue reading→

Phone scammers are pretending to work for the O.C. Sheriff

Posted on February 13, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

NEWS, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: Lt. Jeff Hallock, 714.904.7042, JHallock@ocsd.org; Emily Osterberg, 714.647.1840, EOsterberg@ocsd.org

Phone Scams Use Names of OCSD Personnel to Solicit Money

SANTA ANA, Calif. (February 13, 2015) – The Orange County Sheriff’s Department advises the public to be aware of phone scams involving subjects pretending to be law enforcement personnel. Several instances of this type of fraud continue to occur throughout Orange County.

Suspects fraudulently identifying themselves as law enforcement officers, call victims claiming they have a warrant for their arrest. The reasons for the warrant vary; the most recent being failing to appear for jury duty or unpaid tickets. The victim is then told they can resolve the issue by obtaining a pre-paid money card and calling back with the card number. Once the number is obtained, the funds can be accessed anywhere in the world. The scammers are using names of actual Orange County Sheriff’s Department personnel; have voicemails using the officers’ names and “spoof” caller identification so the numbers of actual law enforcement agencies will appear on the victim’s phone. Continue reading→

Scammers pretending to be law enforcement, on the phone

Posted on November 19, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Orange County Sheriff’s Department

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: Lt. Jeff Hallock, (714) 904-7042/Gail Krause, (714) 647-1840

Law Enforcement Phone Scams Soliciting Money

YORBA LINDA, CA – (November 19, 2013) – The Orange County Sheriff’s Department advises the public to be aware of phone scams involving subjects pretending to be law enforcement personnel. Several instances of this type of fraud have been occurring throughout Orange County.

On Tuesday, October 29 a male subject, fraudulently identifying himself as Lieutenant Mike Stevens with the Orange County Warrant Division, called Lorraine Johnson, 69, of Yorba Linda, and told her that an arrest warrant had been issued for her failure to appear in court on a traffic citation. Stevens told her the violation was captured by a traffic camera in Yorba Linda. He also told the victim there was a glitch in the system and the notice to appear in court was never mailed to her. Stevens told her the bail amount was $365 and that he could help her pay her bail. Stevens instructed Johnson to purchase a “MoneyPak” card and provide the card number to him so he could pay her bail. He also advised the victim to stay on the phone with him while she purchased the card just in case she was pulled over by a police officer. He said he could explain to the officer what she was doing so that she would not be arrested on the warrant. Continue reading→