Residents in Placer County are being warned about a surge in malvertising scams, a type of cybercrime in which deceptive online ads trick people into sharing personal information or paying for fake tech services.
According to the Placer County Sheriff’s Office in an online post, scammers are using malicious ads to install malware, request payment for fake support, or capture sensitive information.
Officials emphasized that simply visiting a compromised website can trigger an infection if a device is not up to date.
Malvertising tactics include pop-ups claiming devices are infected, fake software installers that appear to be from trusted sites, and drive-by downloads that infect devices without any clicks. The sheriff’s office warned, “Do NOT call. Do NOT pay,” and advised residents to only download software from official sources and keep devices updated.
The sheriff’s office also guided people targeted by these scams to never give credit card or banking information, not allow remote access to devices, and preserve evidence such as screenshots, emails, or phone numbers used by the scammers.
The Sheriff's Office says that if you have been targeted to call your local law enforcement agency immediately. For those residents in the unincorporated areas of Placer County, you can report incidents by calling (530) 886-5375.
Sheriff’s officials said they are actively investigating reports and urged residents to stay alert to avoid becoming victims.
