Modesto Police Sound Alarm: Scam Calls Targeting Residents—Here’s How to Spot and Stop Them

MODESTO, Calif. — The Modesto Police Department is urging residents to stay vigilant as a surge of sophisticated scam calls sweeps through the community. Fraudsters are impersonating law enforcement and government agencies, demanding immediate payments under threats of arrest or legal action.

How the Scams Work

• Caller ID Spoofing: Scammers disguise their numbers to appear as local police or IRS extensions.
• Urgent Threats: Victims are told they owe fines or face arrest unless they pay via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.
• Personal Data Manipulation: Some fraudsters reference real names, addresses, or partial Social Security numbers to seem legitimate.

Protect Yourself: Critical Steps

1. Hang Up Immediately: Law enforcement will never demand payment over the phone.
2. Verify Independently: Contact the agency directly using official numbers (e.g., Modesto PD’s non-emergency line: 209-572-9500).
3. Freeze Credit Reports: Prevents identity theft if you’ve shared sensitive information.

“These criminals prey on fear. Slow down, question everything, and never give control to someone who pressures you,” advised Modesto Police Sergeant Elena Torres.

What Do You Think?

• Should telecom companies face fines for failing to block spoofed calls?
• Is law enforcement doing enough to track down these scammers, or are they under-resourced?
• Would you support a federal mandate requiring all calls from government agencies to use verified IDs?