New Phone Scam Hits Santa Barbara County

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s office is experiencing a high number of calls from residents claiming they have been victims of a phone scam.

The Sheriff’s office says they have been receiving reports of a scammer posing as a Sheriff’s deputy telling residents to turn over financial information or purchase a prepaid credit card in order to pay a fine and not be arrested for failing to show up at jury duty.

The Sheriff’s office reminds everyone that the agency does not call residents over the phone to alert them of a warrant nor accept any payments of any kind over the phone.

If you receive a call of this nature, contact the law enforcement agency the caller claims to be from immediately to verify the information.

The Sheriff’s office says never give personal or financial information over the phone.