Impersonating an Officer Scam
Subject: Important Alert: Telephone Scam Targeting Residents
Dear Atherton Residents,
We want to bring to your immediate attention a concerning scam that has recently been reported by several members of our community. The Atherton Police Department has been made aware of residents receiving fraudulent phone calls where the caller is claiming to be a member of the Atherton Police Department.
Here’s what we know so far:
- Scam Details: Residents have reported receiving phone calls from someone purporting to be a member of the Atherton Police Department. They state there is an emergency, and they need money sent immediately. For example, they may say, “I was in a car accident and need money to pay the other party or get my car fixed and I need the money right away.” Other common scripts may include claiming to have been mugged or need money for bail or to pay customs fees to get back into the United States from another country. Sometimes the fraudsters pose as an attorney or law enforcement official contacting the victim on behalf of a friend or relative. No matter what the story is, they always want you to send money immediately.
Fraudsters usually want you to send money in one of two ways:
- They request money be sent through services such as FedEx, UPS, and MoneyGram because they can pick it up quickly, in cash.
- They request the victim pay with gift cards. They instruct the victim to load money on the gift cards and then asks the victim to read the numbers featured on the back of the cards over the phone.
Please take the following precautions:
ASK some questions that would be hard for an imposter to answer correctly. For example, the name of the person’s pet or the date of their mother’s birthday.
CONTACT the person who they claim to be directly. If you can’t reach that person, contact someone else – a friend or relative of the person.
DON’T send money unless you can confirm it’s a person you know.
If you notice any suspicious vehicles or activity in your neighborhood, please contact our Dispatch Center immediately at (650) 688-6500.
Thank you for your vigilance and cooperation.