Residents in Beverly Hills are being subjected to an increasing number of phone scammers claiming to be from the IRS, DWP or law enforcement, police said Wednesday.
Residents are “cold called” and told they are behind in their taxes or water bills, or that a family member is in jail and needs bail money. The caller usually demands immediate payment in the form of pre-paid debit card or wire transfers, according to the Beverly Hills Police Department.
The “sophisticated scammers” often have enough information such as the last four digits of a person’s Social Security number to convince victims that they are legitimate, police said.
The scammers often threaten those who refuse to pay with arrest, a lack of services, or by telling victims that a family member will remain in jail without their help.
Anyone who has received such a call should call Beverly Hills police at (310) 550-4951.
— City News Service