The Merced County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a series of scam phone calls in which individuals are falsely claiming to be sheriff’s staff and demanding $900 payments for an ankle monitor after alleging a loved one has been arrested.

Officials said the calls are fraudulent and are part of a growing trend in which scammers spoof official phone numbers and use pressure tactics to create urgency and convince victims to send money.

The sheriff’s office emphasized it will never call members of the public to demand payment over the phone and is urging residents to be cautious when receiving calls from unknown numbers.

Authorities are encouraging anyone who receives a suspicious call to hang up immediately and report it to their local law enforcement agency.

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