Menifee PD warns of scammers posing as police

News release from the Menifee Police Department:

On March 1, our dispatch center received a call from a manager at a local bank, advising that one of their customers was at their branch attempting to withdraw a large sum of money. The customer stated they were being told by a Menifee Police Sergeant that they had a warrant for their arrest.

The suspect, who had utilized an actual police sergeant’s name to identify himself, told the victim that if she did not purchase gift cards and provide the gift cards’ activation information, he would locate and arrest the victim. The suspect used internet technology to mirror a Police Department phone number during the calls.

The victim provided the suspect with multiple gift card numbers and activation information, however, the suspect continued to ask for additional money. This prompted the victim to become suspicious and she subsequently communicated this to bank personnel, who then contacted the Menifee Police Department.

We would like to be clear that the Menifee Police Department, or any other law enforcement agency, will never ask for payment in lieu of arrest. Monetary fines related to criminal incidents are imposed by a court of law. If you receive a phone call such as this, please call your local police department and verify the source of the call. Do not make any payments to any person acting as a government agent without confirming their identity and legal reason for the solicitation of any type of payment.

The act of obtaining monetary gain through fear and false pretenses, commonly referred to as a “scam”, is a violation of Penal Code 532(a) and can be punishable by up to three years in jail or prison. Furthermore, “scammers” will often ask you to pay in a way that makes it hard for you to get your money back, such as putting money on a gift card, prepaid card or cash reload card, wiring money, or using a money transfer application.