Authorities warned the public this week against con artists claiming to be deputies of the San Francisco Sheriff’s Office as part of an imposter scam.
These scammers often call residents by phone, threatening to arrest victims for either supposed failure to respond to federal warrants or subpoenas, not taking care of citations, or not appearing for jury duty, the Sheriff’s Office said in a news release Tuesday.
Authorities also said fake deputies would claim the Sheriff’s Office already mailed the victim a letter of documentation and that the victim did not appear for a scheduled court date.
After threatening arrest, scammers will demand amounts up to $10,500 in payment from the victims through wire or gift card, the Sheriff’s Office said. Authorities noted the scammers will often call from a spoofed caller ID reading “SAN FRANCISCO COUNTY.”
A woman fell prey to the scam, the Sheriff’s Office said.
The Sheriff’s Office does not collect fees over the phone. Anyone who gets a call asking for fees, or who has information about a similar phone call, should call 415-554-7225 or 911 in case of emergency.