Crime Prevention

Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig is warning residents to be aware of fraudulent telephone calls from people posing as federal government employees concerning Medicare. Beneficiaries are getting calls from scammers telling them their new Medicare card will arrive between April and June 2018, which is true. However, they go on to state beneficiaries must first buy a temporary card for $5.00 to $50.00 and provide personal information before they receive their new Medicare card. THIS IS NOT TRUE. You do not have to pay anything for your new card. Medicare will not call beneficiaries about the new card or number.

New Medicare cards will be mailed directly to beneficiaries at the address on file with Social Security. If beneficiaries need to update their mailing address, they can go to https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/ or call 800-772-1213.

If you or someone you know becomes aware of Medicare related phone scams, please call the Senior Medicare Patrol at 1-855-613-7080.  If you need help with your Medicare, call the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) at 1-800-434-0222 or visit https://cahealthadvocates.org/.

Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig is warning residents to be aware of fraudulent telephone calls from people posing as law enforcement or the Yolo County Superior Court claiming that you missed your jury duty summons. In the current scheme, the scammers’ claim that an arrest warrant has been issued by local law enforcement for missing a jury duty summons, and that you will be arrested unless you immediately pay a fine. The caller sounds very official and has even falsely represented himself as a Yolo County Sheriff’s Deputy.

The Yolo County Sheriff’s Office stated that multiple citizens have been receiving phone calls from individuals who are representing themselves as Sheriff’s Office employees. In the past community members have sent money to these anonymous scammers and recovering these funds has proven very difficult.

The official sounding “Jury Summons Warrant” is designed to frighten recipients into responding quickly when they are upset and not thinking clearly. As with most scams, the con artists are either trying to scare the victim into “wiring” money or going out to purchase prepaid cards to transfer the money. These scammers are also trying to obtain personal information like a Social Security or Credit Card number.

The Yolo County Superior Courts will always notify citizens by US mail of any violations they might have regarding their jury summons. The Courts do not issue bench warrants for failure to appear for a jury summons.

The Yolo County Sheriff’s Office declared that they will never call and request personal or financial information, request payment for any warrants or missed jury duty summons. Sheriff’s Deputies will never make phone calls demanding such information.

Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig is warning residents to be wary of fraudulent telephone calls from people posing as debt collection agents. These scammers state that you have a warrant for your arrest issued by a local law enforcement agency because of an unpaid debt from your past. The scammers say that unless the debt is paid immediately, you will be arrested. These so-called debt collection agents sound very official and the scam is very well executed. Concerned Yolo County citizens have recently contacted the District Attorney’s Fraud Unit to report being contacted by these scammers.

The official sounding “Debt Collection” phone call is designed to frighten recipients into responding quickly while they are upset and not thinking clearly. Prior to the call, the scammers cleverly look up information about the victim which is public record, such as a rented property or homes owned from the past. With this information, they make claims that there are liens or past debts owed from the time that the victim lived at the particular residence. Since the information the scammers are giving the victim over the phone is accurate and believable, the claims that they owe past due money sound credible.

If you get this type of call: 1) Never provide any personal information and never “wire” money or purchase greendot MoneyPak cards; 2) Verify the identity of the caller by requesting an employee identification number. Also, never hesitate to ask a trusted friend or advisor for help before responding to any such suspicious calls.