Sheriff’s Office warns residents of phone scam targeting community

By Staff Report · Fri Jul 17 2026

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a phone scam in which callers falsely claim to be law enforcement officers and threaten victims with arrest over fake outstanding warrants.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, scammers demand immediate payment to resolve the alleged warrant, often requesting money through services such as Zelle, Venmo, PayPal, or Apple Cash. Callers may also use spoofed phone numbers to make the call appear to come from a legitimate government agency.

Residents are reminded that the Sheriff’s Office will never call and demand payment over the phone to resolve a warrant or criminal matter.

Anyone who receives a suspicious call should hang up, avoid sharing personal or financial information, and contact the agency directly using a publicly listed phone number if they have questions. Residents who believe they have fallen victim to the scam should report it to local law enforcement.