The Monterey County District Attorney’s Office is warning residents about a scam in which fraudsters are impersonating banks and government officials to trick victims into transferring money, after a resident was targeted in a recent case.
In a statement Thursday, the District Attorney’s Office said that scammers contacted a Monterey County resident by phone and text, falsely claiming the person’s bank account had been compromised and directing them to move their savings into a fraudulent account.
The callers also used the name of a district attorney investigator to make the scheme appear legitimate and spoofed caller identification to make the calls appear to come from a bank.
Prosecutors said the case reflects a growing trend of increasingly sophisticated scams in which criminals use publicly available information to impersonate officials and pressure victims into acting quickly.
Prosecutors advised residents to independently verify any caller claiming to represent a bank or government agency by hanging up and calling the organization directly using a publicly listed phone number. They also said that legitimate agencies will not ask people to transfer money, buy gift cards or send cryptocurrency to resolve warrants, bills or collections over the phone.
Anyone who believes they may have been targeted or victimized by a similar scam should contact their local police department or the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, or file a complaint with the District Attorney’s consumer protection unit at ConsumerComplaints@countyofmonterey.gov or by calling at (831) 647-7770.