District Attorney’s Office warns of scammers impersonating the local prosecutor
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. (KEYT) – On Friday, the Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office issued a warning to the public about a scam were people are impersonating the District Attorney in emails and text messages.
These communications are fraudulent stated the Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office in a press release about the scam.
Scammers are posing as the local prosecutor and asking people to purchase gift cards or reply to the message with a "convenient" phone number explained the Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office.
According to the Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office, their office will never ask for gift cards, personal information, or phone numbers through unsolicited emails or texts.
The announcement comes as just yesterday, Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Karapetian received a text message (shared below) from a sender pretending to be her boss, District Attorney John Savrnoch.
The texts promised the sender would reimburse Assistant District Attorney Karapetian, but she recognized that the message was likely a scam and reported it to the Chief Investigator for the District Attorney's Office, Kristina Perkins.
Perkins investigated the number and found that it had been spoofed, or falsely displayed on ADA Karapetian's phone, a common tactic in these types of scams explained the Chief Investigator to Your News Channel.
This wasn't the first time the local prosecutor's name has been used in an attempt to scam people.
According to Perkins, an email was sent before using District Attorney Savrnoch's name and asking recipients to share their contact information.
"I want the community to know that the District Attorney’s Office will not contact individuals to request money, gift cards, or personal information," explained Chief Investigator Perkins. "In cases involving a reported crime, our office may contact victims or witnesses to verify information. If you are ever unsure about who you are speaking with on the phone, ask to call the person back, hang up, and then call back using a verified phone number."
Messages like this will often try to create a sense of urgency and use a well-known person, like an elected official, to gain the trust of the receiver.
This is a form of phishing, or scams intended to collect personal information or money by impersonating trusted people or organizations, and there are a few tips the Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office shared Friday that you can use to protect yourself and your information.
Phishing Tips
Do not respond to unsolicited emails or texts. Scammers send these messages from trusted sources hoping you respond.
Never provide personal or financial information to people you don't know or can't confirm. Legitimate organizations can and will confirm their identity.
Be careful about unconventional methods of sending money. Sending money using gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers are key indicators that the request may be a scam.
Be cautious about what you post on social media and online. Information about yourself, such as your location and activities, can be used to create more trust for scammers.
Be vigilant of phishing attempts from trusted sources. Messages from elected officials, celebrities, or high-profile people are often used to scam people into sending money or private information.
What to do if you are a victim of a scam
If you, or someone you know, believes they are the victim of a scam, you can call the District Attorney's Scam Hotline at 805-568-2442.
If the situation is urgent, or if you are afraid for your safety, the Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office encourages you to contact your local law enforcement agency immediately.
