CA: Scammers Target Los Angeles Registrants, Families [UPDATED 7/3/20]

[7/3/20 Janice’s note: we have received new reports regarding the scams in Southern CA, so we are re-posting this 8/4/19 article since it is still happening]

Aug 4, 2018: Scammers, who often pose on the phone as law enforcement officials, are threatening registrants with arrest and demanding immediate payment of sums up to $3,000 in order to avoid jail or prison. There are reports of this occurring during the past week in at least two different cities in Los Angeles County — Upland and Lawndale. According to the reports, the scammers have told registrants that they either failed to register or registered improperly. For example, two registrants were told this week that they are required to register on a quarterly basis although there is no such requirement in CA law.

“If you receive a call that demands immediate payment for a failure to register, be on the alert,” stated ACSOL Executive Director Janice Bellucci. “The source of such a demand is likely to be a scammer. Real law enforcement officials do not demand payment in any amount for a real failure to register.”

After falsely notifying a registrant that he has failed to register, the people posing as law enforcement officials attempt to keep the registrant on the phone until he purchases several gift cards in lieu of cash. Registrants are then told to drive to the parking lot of a nearby police or sheriff’s station where the gift cards are demanded. In all reported cases, the police or sheriff’s station to which the registrant has driven is closed for business.

If a registrant asks the scammer for a phone number, they are told to call 800-561-0389 or another number.

“The best way to stop a scam is to hang up the phone and not answer the next phone call,” stated Bellucci. “If you give money, gift cards or anything else to a scammer, you will only encourage them to prey on other innocent families.”

It is also reported that phone calls from an attorney who demands that calls to registrants cease and desist immediately have been effective.

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A minor error in the article. Upland is in San Bernardino County, not Los Angeles County.

Can we use all these legit scam as evidence that registrants are being exploited and it’s all because of the registry.

Isn’t this great !
The Gov. gets to sit back and diddle themselves while RCs and family are targeting Directly because of Garbage, Abusive Laws !
Just another UNJUST CIVIL MATTER THOSE BAD GUYS ARE REQUIRED TO ENDURE FOR THE SAKE OF SOCIETY ,,,
HUH !!! “FOR REAL” !!!
WHO WILL PAY THE RC VICTIMS !
WE NEED A “GO FUND ME”
CALLED…
RCs Unjust Civil Penalties Fund!
Thanks !

Call the police from another phone. Have them meet you in the parking lot with the scammer. Easy.

Curious: was this just those posted online? My relative had a similar situation where they where informed a relative had been arrested and she was to bring 6k down in cash to bail them out? We reported it to the police who informed us this happens daily. The callers number could show a different number? Name? Very disturbing.

They’re BAAAAACK!
Got a call from my DAUGHTER saying they LA Co. Sheriff is trying to get a hold of me for an investigation. She is my emergency contact. She was really upset. Calmed her down and not 1 minute after her call I missed two calls from a local number and sure enough, voicemail I says I have to call back the number officer so and so needs me to call back because I am involved in an investigation. These guys are relentless!

Hit kern county,,,2x in 1 monrh ,,,just on me”