Full Notification

The Bear Valley Police Department has several recent reports from residents who have been targeted by or fallen victim to scams.

These scams include individuals falsely claiming to be from a government or law enforcement agency and demanding money under threat of penalties, including arrest. Other scams involve individuals posing as family members needing emergency financial help.

In both situations, scammers use high-pressure tactics to get victims to send money before they have a chance to think through or verify the situation.

Common red flags include:

• Creating a false sense of urgency, pressuring victims to act immediately.
• Requests for unusual payment methods such as gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.
• Unexpected emails, calls, or texts.
• Demands for secrecy or instructions not to tell anyone about the situation.

• Slow down. Scammers try to create panic so you act without thinking. Pause, take a deep breath, and carefully evaluate the situation.
• Verify who you are talking to. If someone claims to represent a government agency, independently look up the official phone number and call it directly. Do not use contact information provided by the potential scammer.
• Protect your personal information. Never provide Social Security numbers, passwords, banking details, or other sensitive information to unsolicited callers.