LASD Alert, Impersonating Scams

Please take the time to review the special bulletin regarding threat-based impersonation scams.

These scammers gather information through social media and use it to coerce victims out of money.

The bulletin includes examples of the scams, as well as tips to keep yourself from becoming a victim.

TACTICS:

Scammers gather information on their potential victims from online

sources such as Linkedin, social media, professional profiles, and online

search tools.

Scammers call and use the information previously gathered on the

victims to deceive the victims into thinking the callers are government

officials.

To make their demands more credible, scammers spoof phone

numbers of legitimate government agencies and use the real names of

government officials.

They threaten the victims with arrest for outstanding warrants or other legal issues.

They instruct the victims to "resolve" the matter by "posting bail" by sending money with gift cards or

cryptocurrency.

They usually instruct victims to provide gift card codes over the phone or send cryptocurrency to an address

provided by the suspect.

Scammers sometimes demand that the victims send photos of themselves for "virtual booking.

They often demand that the victims stay on the phone until their demands are met.

BE ON THE LOOKOUT:

If you are unsure about the origin of a call, text, or email, verify the identity and the story of the senders/callers

through independent sources, including visiting your local police/sheriff's stations.

Do not be pressured by threatening callers; hang up and verify their stories. Do not use the contact

information provided by the callers or the numbers that called you because those numbers may have been

spoofed.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department or any other law enforcement agencies will never ask for any type of payment over the phone.

Financial transactions with the Sheriff's Department are handled in person, at local sheriff's stations,

courthouses, or custody facilities.

Never send money or give your bank account details, credit card details, or other personal information to

anyone you don't know or trust.

If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call “Crime Stoppers” by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), use your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” Mobile APP on Google Play or the Apple App Store or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org