City of Chino

Chino – Across the county, people are falling victim to a nationwide scam in which individuals pose as family members and urge victims to wire thousands of dollars due to an emergency. In another scenario, callers claim to be employed by the IRS and are calling to collect a debt.

Although the circumstances vary from case to case, typical schemes include using information (usually obtained via the internet, including social media sites and illegally obtained email) to impersonate a family member and/or a legal representative, such as a lawyer. This individual often insists that the victim keep the request confidential and asks that the money be wired immediately. By the time the person realizes they have been victimized, the money is gone and cannot be traced. Most cases lead law enforcement to locations outside of the county, making these crimes very difficult to investigate.

If found in this situation, Officers of the Chino Police Department urge residents and members of the business community to protect themselves by utilizing the following prevention tips:

• Resist the urge to act immediately, regardless of the sense of urgency implied by the caller.
• Verify the identity of the person by asking specific questions a stranger could not answer.
• Try to contact the alleged family member if possible.
• Verify the story with someone close to the family member.
• Report possible fraud to your local law enforcement officials.

If you have information related to this type of activity please contact the Chino Police Department at (909) 628-1234.