San Bernardino County Seniors Advised to Be Wary of Fraudulent Phone Solicitations

Per a press release issued by the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health today, some elderly residents in San Bernardino County have received fraudulent telephone calls from people stating they were representing the County Department of Public Health. The callers asked for personal information, such as Social Security numbers and bank records. Per the department’s Director of Public Health Jim Lindley, “I want to assure the public that the employees of my department do not make telephone calls soliciting this type of information to conduct business.” Lindley further notes that identity theft occurs when someone uses your personally identifying information, like your name, Social Security number, or credit card number, without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes. If you are not able to verify the person who calls you to request such details, immediately report the solicitor to your local police department—in our case, the Big Bear Sheriff’s Station at 866-0100.