Families of incarcerated people are being targeted by scammers who falsely claim to be connected to the Placer County Sheriff's Office and demand payments for services tied to incarcerated loved ones.
According to an online post from the Placer County Sheriff's Office, the agency has seen a surge in these scams in recent weeks. The scammers falsely identify themselves as Placer County Sheriff's Office personnel and claim payment is required for services such as rehabilitation or probation programs, bail, or having charges expunged.
Victims are often told to send money through payment platforms like Zelle or Venmo or to buy retail gift cards. In some cases, scammers call back and claim the first payment did not go through, then demand an additional payment.
The Placer County Sheriff's Office said it will never make personal phone calls to demand payment for an incarcerated individual or request payment through mobile payment apps or gift cards.
Anyone who receives a call like this is advised not to send money or provide personal information. The agency said people should hang up immediately and report the incident to the non-emergency dispatch line at (530) 886-5375.
The Placer County Sheriff's Office encouraged people to stay alert and share the warning to help protect others in the community.
(Placer County Sheriff's Office contributed to this story.)
