December 18, 2023 - Placer County Sheriff's Office officials report that their dispatchers recently took several calls from alert residents describing how scammers targeted them. These imposters are telephoning our small business owners and telling them they are calling from the Sheriff’s Office with a warning that they have failed to appear in court and can be arrested. Their supposed crime? Allegedly failing to repay Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) small business loans from the U.S. government during the COVID shutdown.
These swindlers claimed they were Deputies “Carson Bailey” or “Keith Bridges,” and in this type of scam, they will usually tell the victim in order to clear up the warrant they must purchase Visa gift cards and provide the card information to them over the phone. However, our residents quickly realized these callers were frauds and hung up. That’s exactly the right action to take.
No government agency will ask you to pay fines, fees, or penalties with gift cards. Not the IRS, not law enforcement, not anyone. Remember, gift cards are for gifts, not payments!
If you have been victimized by this type of scam or something similar please call us and deputies will respond and answer any questions you might have. You can also report fraud to the Federal Trade Commission.
We are very glad to learn our alert Placer County residents did not fall prey to these con men.
Source: Placer County Sheriff's Office
Related: Fresno County Sheriff Issues Scam Alert - Inspect Gift Cards BEFORE You Purchase & Leave the Store
Tuolumne County Sheriff Issues a Reminder to Protect Yourself from Holiday Phone and Mail Scams
Placer County Sheriff Issues Phone Scam Alert After Victim Lost $20,000 in Computer Virus Scam
