On May 14, 2019, a Gilroy resident received a phone call from someone claiming to be from the Social Security Administration. The resident was informed their Social Security number was being fraudulently used and an officer from the Gilroy Police Department (GPD) would be calling them to take a report.
A few minutes later, the resident received a “spoof call” from the GPD non-emergency phone number. The caller identified himself as a member of GPD and he told the resident in order to resolve the issue, they would need purchase retail gift cards and provide the card numbers. The resident followed his instructions and later realized it was a scam.
The Gilroy Police Department would like to remind everyone to be aware of these types of scams and to be suspicious of any telephone calls where the caller imposes a problem or crisis and the only solution is to immediately send money. The fictitious problem or crisis can include identity theft, an arrest warrant, an immigration issue, delinquent taxes, a relative in jail, or a kidnapped relative. The money demanded can be in the form of prepaid gift cards or money wire transfers through private money transfer companies.
As a reminder, genuine governmental agencies never accept payments by prepaid gift cards or through private money transfer companies.
If an individual calls you identifying themselves as a law enforcement officer or a representative of a law enforcement agency and you believe the phone call is suspicious in nature, you are encouraged to contact the law enforcement agency in question to verify the caller’s identity.
If you have any information regarding this investigation, you are encouraged to call the Gilroy Police Department at (408) 846-0350.
