Sheriff’s Office Reports Phone Scam

After receiving an elevated number of calls from concerned residents on Saturday, November 15, the Sheriff’s Office is advising Santa Barbara County citizens against falling for a phone scam making the rounds. According to department spokesperson Kelly Hoover, the callers present themselves as Sheriff’s deputies and tell people that they must fork over their financial information or a pre-paid credit card to avoid arrest for missing jury duty.

Recipients of such calls are asked to report the incident to the department. “The Sheriff’s Office wants to remind residents that our agency does not call residents over the phone to notify them of a warrant nor do we take payments of any kind over the phone,” Hoover said.