Full Notification

Recently, it seems that scam artists are targeting Moraga residents with a vengeance. These scammers can be very clever and convincing. They play on your fear and your concern for loved ones. We need to be smarter than they are and not be duped into giving up our information or hard earned money. Remember, neither the Police, the Courts, nor the IRS will have you pay money over the phone or by using Western Union, Green Dot cards, gift cards or other medium. You can report scams to www.ftc.gov.

Here are some of the common scams and how to prevent them:

IRS – Even the Chief of Police has received this call (yes…his taxes are paid). You are told you owe money; if you don’t pay – the police will be sent directly to your house. They offer to transfer you to a settlement or other department to make payment arrangements. During another call, the scammer said that an audit revealed you are due to receive a refund, which could be transferred immediately if you provide your bank account number. You would not have received a refund…your account would have been cleaned out. Simply, hang up on these people - they are crooks!. Do not call the number back. If you are truly concerned, look up the number for the local IRS office and contact them directly.

Extortion Letters - Letters are being sent that tell you the writer knows about some dark secret or something you did. Unless you pay an amount of money via a bitcoin transaction, your embarrassing secret will be revealed. We all know there is no secret that someone knows about; they are preying upon your fear of the unknown. Laugh about it, shred the letter and don't worry about it. It is a scam!

E-Mails – Simply, there is no Nigerian Lottery, no one you have never met has died and left millions in trust that are yours after you supply your personal information, and banks do not send you an e-mail to verify your PIN or account number. When things appear to be too good to be true, they are. Do not allow people to prey upon your wishes for wealth. If you get an e-mail from a bank, do not click on the link. Either telephone or e-mail the bank using information that you obtain. Do not use the numbers listed on the e-mail or linked on the e-mail. Do not provide your personal or banking information.

Fake Family Member – This one tugs on your heart strings. You receive a call from someone who identifies themselves as a relative and tells you they are in jail or in the hospital and need money. They say they are embarrassed and ask you not to tell their parents or others who are close to them. Hang up and call your relative. If you do not have their direct number, contact a family member who does. If they are truly in trouble, that is when families come together to help each other. Chances are, your family member will answer their telephone and all will be well.

Law Enforcement Scam – Believe or not, the Chief received one of these too. You are told you missed jury duty, have outstanding parking citations or there is warrant out for your arrest and you need to pay the bail to avoid being arrested by the police who are on the way to your house. They may tell you that Chief King or another officer authorized it, after looking up information about the Moraga Police on the Internet. Law enforcement does not demand money over the phone, ask you to wire funds or use money or gift cards. Simply hang up on these people.

Often times, the best way to prevent being scammed is to not answer calls from unknown or unfamiliar telephone numbers. Verify with whom you are talking by hanging up and call back to a known telephone number. Additionally, never supply personal information (full name, date of birth, social security number, account numbers, etc.) over the phone.

Please contact the Moraga Police Department at 925-888-7055 with any questions. You are always welcome to come to the Police Department and talk with an officer about any scam attempt. Knowledge and caution are some of the best tools to prevent scams.