Scammer pretends to be Butte County Sheriff’s Office

CHICO » Those who follow scams or have been contacted by scammers probably know by now that a common theme is “spoofing” phone numbers so that the caller ID shows a different number, usually one recognized by the target.

You think you’re getting a call from your grandma but then you answer it and suddenly a robot is telling you the IRS is about to lob a grenade through your window for missing something on your taxes.

This week, a scammer pretended to be the Butte County Sheriff’s Office, bringing their scam particularly close to home.

The Sheriff’s Office sent out a notice advising residents to not provide personal information to the unknown caller.

“Our Warrants Division has received several calls from community members today stating they had a missed call from our Warrants Office 530-583-7449,” the statement reads. “It appears someone is ‘spoofing’ that phone number and placing calls to members of our community.”

So basically, someone is out there pretending to be the Sheriff’s Office trying to scare people into thinking there is a warrant out for their arrest.

The statement goes on to say that the Sheriff’s Office will never call and tell you there’s a warrant and asks that residents do not answer the phone.

I haven’t personally received this call yet so it’s hard to say what’s on the other end, but I’m willing to bet it’s someone, or an automated voice, asking for personal information for the sake of identity theft or bank payouts.

That said, as always never give out personal information such as banking numbers or social security numbers, even if the person on the other end is claiming to be Sheriff Kory Honea himself.

Scam of the Week generally runs every Tuesday. Readers are welcome to contact reporter Jake Hutchison to report scams and potential scams they have come in contact with by calling 828-1329 or via email at jhutchison@chicoer.com.