Pay to avoid an arrest warrant? It's a scam, Stanislaus Sheriff's Department warns.
A scammer has put some effort into getting people to pay to avoid arrest for supposedly ignoring a jury summons, the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department warns.
A man identifying himself as Dale Ingram has been calling residents to tell them warrants have been issued for their arrest, which they can avoid by paying a bond amount. In reality, the Sheriff's Department never solicits money to avoid a warrant, according to its Facebook post regarding the scam.
"Dale Ingram is the name the person is using. We do not know his actual name," Sheriff's Department spokesman Sgt. Anthony Bejaran said Wednesday morning.
"Ingram is using a caller ID spoofing app to use an actual Stanislaus County Sheriff's Office telephone number to make his call, but he is asking people to call him back at 209-883-6202," the Facebook post says. "He has gone so far in his scam as to have an automated message saying, 'Stanislaus County Sheriff''s Office warrant process and court services, please wait for the next available deputy.' Dale Ingram is giving people the option of making a payment to avoid being arrested. If you receive a call from this number or person, it is a SCAM; please do not pay this person any money."
Tuesday, the scammer called a would-be victim and directed the person to drive to 801 11th St. in Modesto, the address for Stanislaus County Adult Probation. He told the person he to meet him outside, to be placed under arrest, "or they had the choice to pay the bond amount," the post says. "Thankfully, the person hung up the phone and did not lose any money."
Anyone who gets a call from the scammer is urged to call the Sheriff's Department at 209-525-7114 to report it. The department also recommends blocking the number.
"If you feel you may have missed jury duty," the post says, "contact the jury office at 209-548-6293 for official Stanislaus County Courthouse jury duty information."
This story was originally published February 7, 2018 at 7:49 AM with the headline "Pay to avoid an arrest warrant? It's a scam, Stanislaus Sheriff's Department warns.."