Ridgecrest Police Department warns residents about phone scam

RIDGECREST, Calif. — The Ridgecrest Police Department is warning residents about a phone scame being perpetrated in the community.

According to the department, "citizens in this community have been receiving phone calls from unknown individuals claiming they are from the Ridgecrest Police Department and asking for donations for fallen Officers."

The Ridgecrest Police Department wants to remind people that the department does not directly ask residents for cash for fallen officers. If someone receives a call asking for donations, they recommend you hang up and notify the Ridgecrest Police Department.

The Kern County Sheriff's Office recently warned residents of another scam hitting the county.

According to the KCSO, a resident received a phone call from someone claiming to be with the Sheriff's Office and that they had a warrant for that person's arrest for failuter to appear. The victim was then instructed on how to make payment using gift cards.

"The would-be victim went so far as to go to the store and purchase gift cards. The suspect stayed on the phone the whole time, and knew the exact mileage it would take to arrive at the store," explained the KCSO. "The victim said as he was leaving the store, the suspect told him to give him the 13-digit card number, and it was that point the victim realized it was a scam and hung up the phone."