The City of Coronado Police Department has recently issued a warning about an uptick in scam attempts targeting residents with threats of non-existent arrest warrants. According to the City of Coronado Police Department, a scammer claiming to be an unknown male contacted a victim and falsely stated that there was a warrant out for their arrest due to a missed jury duty. The scammer demanded $2,000 and successfully coaxed $500 via Zelle before the victim sensed the deception and alerted the police.
Additionally, on the very same day, another Coronado resident dodged a similar scam, where they were texted by someone masquerading as a federal agent who fraudulently claimed that the resident had an outstanding arrest warrant; this time the scammer's demand had ballooned to $5,000, and it was only the keen observation of a Chase Bank employee who recognized the tell-tale signs of fraud and called the police, ensuring no money was parted with in the second instance, it's a troubling sign that scammers seem to become more emboldened by the day, which coincided with a warning by the department to be vigilant of such fraudulent activities.
The department's message to the public lists various methods scammers typically suggest for payment, such as Zelle, Venmo, bank transfer, and even gift cards, emphasizing the importance of recognizing these red flags. They noted, "Law Enforcement Will NEVER: Ask for payment over the phone or via text, demand payment through Zelle, Venmo, bank transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency, threaten arrest without official documentation or due process." The Coronado Police Department also stressed the scammers' reliance on instilling fear to manipulate victims into quick compliance.
