Edhat Staff
(Photo: Facebook)
Source: District Attorney of Santa Barbara County
SCAM WARNING: Circulation of Scam Letter Purporting to be from Department of Justice and District Attorney Joyce Scott Dudley or J. Scott Dudley
Santa Barbara County District Attorney Joyce E. Dudley is warning the public about a scam letter circulating in our community. It is signed with the name J. Scott Dudley. Underneath the signature block are the words, “Signed: Santa Barbara District Attorney Joyce Scott Dudley”.
The scam begins with a telephone call from someone purporting to be from Publisher’s Clearing House stating that the recipient has won a prize. In order to claim the prize, the targeted victim must send a check for $350. This telephone call is followed by another call from someone claiming to be from the Capital One Fraud Department, who is supposedly investigating fraudulent activity on the victim’s Chase account.
This call is followed by the fake letter. The letter purports to be from the Department of Justice and has an official-looking but fake seal next to the heading, “Department of Justice”. The topic of the letter is “Cyber Crime in California”. The letter begins by alerting the recipient about an unusual transaction on their bank account. The letter goes on to state that the FBI is requesting the recipient’s “full cooperation and Strictest Confidence” while the investigation is continuing. The recipient is promised compensation of $30,000 for their support. This multi-layered scam is undoubtedly designed to gain the victim’s trust, so that under the auspices of the “FBI” the victim will part with some money. Be advised that this entire sequence is a scam. The letter was not sent by the Department of Justice, nor was it signed by Santa Barbara County District Attorney Joyce E. Dudley.
Any person receiving this letter should report it immediately to the FBI at www.ic3.gov.
Good grief, the creative scams people come up with. This one sounds so real, bet they hook a lot of folks. Thanks for the warning.
Is it a real address when I can show up in person with the check?
Older folks who are confused with dementia fall for this scam all the time I would personally like to reach out to the criminals and squeeze their face alittle.