Ventura County Sheriff's Department

The Fillmore Police Department would like to warn Fillmore residents about several ongoing scams occurring within our community. During the past month, citizens have reported IRS, Cashier’s Check and Internet scams.

In one scam, a resident received a phone call from a subject purportedly from the IRS. The subject claimed the victim had unpaid taxes and threatened arrest by local law enforcement if payment was not received. In another scam, a resident responded to a “pop-up” window on their computer claiming the computer was infected with a virus. The victim paid money for the virus to be removed, only realizing later that they were the victim of a scam. In yet another scam, a victim received a cashier’s check and a cover letter from a reputable company. The victim was directed to cash the check, keep a small amount for themselves and send the rest to an address in another state.

None of the scenarios described above are legitimate transactions.

In order to avoid being the victim of a scam, Fillmore residents are encouraged to:
Never cash cashier’s checks sent to you in the mail from an unfamiliar person.
Always contact your local financial institution to verify the authenticity of any check.
Never give out any personal or banking information over the phone or through the internet.
If your computer/laptop indicates it has a virus, always consult an electronics specialist for repairs.

If you have questions about an interaction and you think it might be a scam, stop and call the Fillmore Police Department at 805-524-2233.

Notify the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/ or call 877-382-4357.

For more information regarding scams, visit https://www.fbi.gov/scams-and-safety or https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-scamsconsumer-alerts

Prepared by: Deputy Isaiah Miramontes
Approved by: Captain Eric Tennessen