The way it works is a person makes random phone calls to residents where he identifies himself as a ranking member of our department.
He is often identified as having a strong southern drawl when he speaks. This person is a fraud and does not work for the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office.
In these documented cases, the scammer claims the resident can get their loved one out of jail by paying a fee via Cryptocurrency, a gift card or a digital payment like Zelle, Cash App, etc. The price can be hundreds or even thousands of dollars. The incarcerated person will be given an ankle monitor, then assigned to an intervention program. Once completed, the ankle monitor can be turned back into the jail for a refund of their money. Again, this is FAKE.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office wants to make it clear to the public that it never makes solicitations for money or asks for the payment of fines over the phone.
We believe this person / group is researching our public jail booking logs, then cross referencing the names with an online database to find a relative's name and number. The scammer then calls them, preys on their fear and tries to convince them to pay.
It’s important for everyone to stay aware of this trend and have a discussion with family and friends to educate and identify these fraudulent attempts. If you receive a similar call, do not give in to the caller’s demands and do not give them any of your personal information. Please document any information, such as the caller’s name or phone number and report it to the law enforcement agency overseeing your jurisdiction. The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office accommodates online reporting for this type of matter. Please visit www.fresnosheriff.org and click on “Report a Crime” located at the top of the page. You should select “Harassing Phone Call” to make your report.
You may also submit an online report to the FBI at: https://www.ic3.gov/
Watch a video of a news report at: https://youtu.be/fY7JMjrNu6Q
