Phone/Hack Scam Alert
The County Sheriff’s Office is warning the public about a phone/computer scam that’s been going around with some local residents losing a ton of cash.
Sheriff’s spokesman Tony Cipolla said, “The Sheriff’s Office has recently had numerous reports of sophisticated scams occurring within San Luis Obispo County.
“One scam in particular is targeting our older residents and has generated several calls to the Sheriff’s Office.”
Cipolla explained that this particular scam starts with pop-ups on a victim’s computer screen warning them that they’ve been hacked.
“The pop up,” Cipolla said, “will advise them to call a phone number immediately in order to prevent any loss.”
With a fish on the hook, the scam kicks into gear. “Once the number is called,” Cipolla said, “the suspects on the phone will be professional and attempt to be helpful by transferring them to their bank’s fraud department when actually they are just transferring the victim to another scammer.”
This scam plays out over several days. “The suspects will speak to the victim over multiple days,” Cipolla said, “provide detailed information, and eventually arrange a meet up to collect the cash the victim has withdrawn at the victim’s house. The suspects will arrange with the victim to only give the money to someone who has a security code. This is to ‘prove’ that they are legitimate.”
He said some victims have lost thousands. “Victims have lost large amounts of money,” Cipolla said, “with one person losing more than $60,000 and another losing over $120,000.”
The public should be wary. “If you receive something suspicious like a pop up on your computer saying you have been hacked or a phone call demanding money,” Cipolla advised, “contact the Sheriff’s Office to speak with law enforcement about these circumstances so we can hopefully prevent any loss.”
The Sheriff’s Office asks everyone to speak to family and friends about this scam, “so they can be prepared in the event this happens to them.”
Alleged Hate Crime in SLO City
The San Luis Obispo Police Department is asking for help identifying a suspect in an alleged hate crime targeting the LBGTQ+ community as well as local political candidates.
On July 24, the SLOPD investigated a series of suspicious incidents involving burned political signs and burned flags being left at various locations downtown.
“An adult male is seen in surveillance footage affixing the burned items to doors or draping them across the doorway thresholds,” states a news release from the City. “The burned signs were political yard signs, and the burned flags represented the LBGTQ+ community and the country of Ukraine. The signs and flags also had religious statements written on them.”
The male did not light the items on fire at the businesses, thus, arson is not suspected, according to the report. The police department had a similar report of items left at a business in June of this year on the 900 block of Monterey. The surveillance footage captured during the June incident shows a male subject who appears to be the same person captured on surveillance during the recent crimes.
“We are currently investigating the matter as a hate crime and determining whether other criminal charges are applicable,” officials said.
The suspect is not known to SLOPD. In both videos, the male is wearing shorts and dark t-shirt with a noticeable full white beard. Anyone with information on the identity of the male pictured above are asked to contact the on-duty watch commander at 805-781-7312, and reference SLOPD case number 240724011.
L.O. Fire Prevention Preparedness, Aug. 3
The San Luis Obispo Fire Safe Council hold a Los Osos Fire Prevention, Preparedness and Education Town Hall on August 3 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Community members are encouraged to attend the meeting at the Cal Fire South Bay Training Center, 880 Manzanita Dr. There will be an evacuation model demonstration, showing how fire could propagate through the Los Osos/Baywood community.
The goal of the meeting is to educate citizens in how to reduce fire fuels, prepare your property, and harden homes and businesses in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) of Los Osos/Baywood. Additionally, attendees will learn how to prevent fires as well as prepare for a large-scale emergency evacuation event, with important information on making tough decisions, such as sheltering in place.
Questions are encouraged and will be answered by representatives of Cal Fire, San Luis Obispo Sheriff’s Department, California Highway Patrol, and more.
There is parking on site, not pets are allowed. For more information, go to firesafeslo.org.
Addis on President Biden Not Seeking Re-Election
Assemblymember Dawn Addis (D-Morro Bay) issued the following statement about President Biden’s announcement that he will not seek re-election:
“I thank President Joe Biden for his service to our nation. When President Biden first assumed the presidency, our country was in a dark place, grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic, job loss, and attacks on reproductive freedoms and LGBTQ rights. Since then, his administration has left an indelible mark on our country by rebuilding America’s economic strength, investing in its infrastructure, and restoring our values of fairness, decency, and democracy. President Biden’s leadership has made our country better and has given us hope. I look forward to the work that his administration continues to do and his ongoing commitment to all Americans.”
Vice President Kamala Harris is the clear front-winner to replace Biden on the Democrat’s ticket. A virtual vote on the nomination could come as early as August 1, post press time.
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