San Francisco Police Warns Public About Telephone Scam 21-077

San Francisco Police have received information that scammers are contacting residents claiming they have outstanding warrants or have committed crimes and must pay a fine.  These scammers sometimes use technology known as “caller ID spoofing” to display an SFPD phone number or other official looking phone numbers on the victim’s caller ID.

The public should be reminded that the San Francisco Police Department does not:

• Make cold calls asking for donations
• Call people to tell them about warrants
• Ask for money, gift cards or wire transfers to pay off warrants

San Francisco Police urge all members of the community to be suspicious of strangers calling for money to pay outstanding warrants or fines as this is not the correct procedure. Anyone who receives such a call should hang up immediately.  Do not engage the caller in conversation and never give out personal information.

We encourage the public to share this information with their loved ones and any vulnerable people who may be potential victims of this scam.

Anyone who has received such a call and provided either personal identification information (such Social Security or driver’s license numbers) or given payment by any means, should file a police report in the jurisdiction of their residence.