SLO County Sheriff’s Office Warns Public About Recent Phone Scams

Below is a press release from the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office regarding a public alert about recent phone scams.

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY, Calif. – The Sheriff's Office is warning residents about a phone scam that has recently resurfaced in our area.

In these scams, callers falsely claim to be from a law enforcement agency and tell victims they have an outstanding arrest warrant. They then demand immediate payment to clear the warrant or avoid arrest. Scammers often ask for payment through apps such as Zelle, Venmo, PayPal, Apple Cash, or other money transfer services.

To make the calls appear legitimate, scammers may "spoof" their phone number so it displays as a law enforcement agency or government office.

Remember: The Sheriff's Office will never call and demand payment over the phone to resolve a warrant or criminal matter.

If you receive one of these calls:
-Hang up immediately.
-Do not send money or provide financial or personal information.
-Do not trust caller ID alone, it can be spoofed.
-If you're unsure whether a call is legitimate, contact the agency directly using a publicly listed phone number.

If you believe you have been the victim of this scam, report it to your local law enforcement agency.

The Sheriff's Office encourages residents to share this warning with family, friends, and neighbors to help prevent others from becoming victims.

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