The sheriff’s Malibu/Lost Hills Station warned the public Wednesday about phone scams involving claims the recipient owes money to the Internal Revenue Service or has an outstanding arrest warrant for unpaid traffic tickets.
Both scams try to get victims to purchase Green Dot Money Packs which are transferred or redeemed while both parties are on the telephone, authorities said.
The caller notifies the person on the other end of the line that they are late on a payment or there was an error on a previous tax return filing and insists they are required to make a payment in the range of $800 to $1,200 by purchasing a Green Dot Money Pack, authorities said.
If questioned by the potential victim, the scam artist notifies them that if they fail to make the payment immediately they will be arrested by the sheriff’s department, authorities said.
The first point of contact by the IRS will always be official correspondence by U.S. mail and it never solicits fees by phone, authorities said.
Victims of the warrant scam are told they have outstanding arrest warrants for failing to appear in court on traffic tickets.
Scammers are instructing victims to make a payment via the same Green Dot Money Packs and are claiming to represent the sheriff’s department, authorities said.
The public should never give out any personal information, or agree to forfeit, donate or pay any amount of money to anyone who solicits you over the phone, authorities said.
Anyone who would like to confirm if they have an outstanding warrant can come directly to the sheriff’s department, authorities said.
