February 16, 2026 – Merced County Sheriff’s Office officials are warning the public about an increase in 
fraudulent phone calls reported to Dispatch involving scammers impersonating law enforcement and court officials.
In recent incidents, callers have reported receiving phone calls from individuals claiming to be representatives of the Sheriff’s Office, the courts, or other officials who demand both small and large sums of money and instruct victims to deposit funds into payment kiosks.
In other cases, victims were threatened with immediate arrest, jail time, or other legal consequences if payment was not made. Scammers have falsely claimed victims had outstanding warrants, failures to appear, or missed jury duty obligations.
The Merced County Sheriff’s Office reminds the public that law enforcement agencies and courts do not demand payment over the telephone. The Sheriff’s Office will never request money to be deposited into kiosks, prepaid cards, or wire transfers. Threats of immediate arrest made over the phone are a common scam tactic.
Anyone who receives a call of this nature is encouraged to hang up immediately and not send money or provide any personal information. The Sheriff’s Office also encourages residents to share this information with family members, friends, and especially elderly or vulnerable individuals who may be more frequently targeted by these scams.
If you believe you have been targeted or victimized by this scam, please contact your local law enforcement agency.
Source: Merced County Sheriff’s Office
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