In what is escalating into a concerning pattern of deceit, the Placer County Sheriff's Office has issued a scam alert involving fraudulent calls about probation ankle monitors. The scammers, posing as probation officers, have been contacting community members, leveraging the anxiety that surrounds the criminal justice system to exploit and extract money from their targets. According to a social media post by the Placer County Sheriff's Office, these imposters demand $1,650 via Zelle, falsely claiming it's for an ankle monitor as part of an "alternative sentencing" program.
The audacity of these calls is matched only by their specificity, with scammers often misrepresenting themselves as the Chief Probation Officer, or as part of the probation staff, stating that this substantial payment is necessary. It's a cruel ruse, given the confusion and desperation felt by families of the incarcerated, who can be quick to act when nearing the release of their loved ones. The Sheriff's Office wants to make it crystal clear: "This is a scam." They assert that they would never call or text to demand payment, request money through electronic platforms like Zelle, or impose charges for ankle monitors, which are provided by the department at no cost to individuals or families.
Despite these assurances, the damage inflicted by such scams ripples through the community, with at least one reported case of a victim sending money to these criminals. Concern is mounting as these incidents are not isolated, but part of a larger trend targeting vulnerable families. The agencies involved, including the Placer County Sheriff's Office and the Placer County Probation Department, are collaborating to investigate and halt these scams, actively seeking to prevent more victims from being ensnared in this web of deception.
For those on the receiving end of such dubious calls, the advice is simple yet urgent: do not send money and hang up immediately. The Sheriff's Department urges anyone with doubts to verify information directly with the Placer County Probation by calling (530) 889-7900.
