Family victim of phone scam in Goshen

The Tulare County Sheriff’s Office is alerting the public to the possibility of a phone scam working the area after a family in Goshen was reportedly victimized on Friday.

“The Tulare County Sheriff’s Department is encouraging the public to use caution when receiving calls from strangers that are requesting money,” officials stated in a press release. “Should you be a recipient of such calls, please report the incident to your local law enforcement department prior to sending any currency through any requested means.”

At approximately 2 p.m. on Friday, deputies from the Visalia Substation were dispatched to an address in the 30800 block of Effie Drive in Goshen regarding a telephone scam. On arrival, deputies learned the victims were coaxed by someone claiming to be Gabriel Robles into believing their relative was detained in Nayarit, Mexico and bail money was needed.

The victims were persuaded to send two different currency transactions totaling $990 dollars via RIA Services from local supermarkets, but, when the suspect continued to demand additional money, the victims became suspicious of the caller and reported the incident to TCSO.

Anyone with additional information regarding this investigation is further urged to contact the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department via telephone at 1-800-808-0488 or 7336218 or anonymously at tcso@ tipnow.com or by text or voicemail at 725-4194.