A warning is going out to the public about a new scam where impersonators pretend to be Sierra County jail staff.
The Sierra County Sheriff's Office (SCSO) says that the new scam targets relatives of those who are in jail.
In the scam, someone will contact the family member of a jailed person and claim to be jail staff. They claim that a judge has determined that the person could be released either by posting bail, or by purchasing a GPS monitoring program.
As with most common scams, the scammers can sometimes resort to demanding payment and creating a sense of urgency.
The SCSO has provided the following tips to the public regarding the scam:
- Jail staff do not contact families to solicit bail or electronic monitoring payments
- Legitimate bail transactions are handled through the court system or licensed bail bond agents
- Never provide payment or personal information to anyone you don't know
Officials say that if you receive a suspicious call like the ones described, to hang up immediately, do not send any money or details, and contact the SCSO to report the call.
For more information, call the Sierra County Sheriff's Office at (530) 289-3700.
