Martinez Police: Beware Of Recent Phone Scam Threatening Arrest

A phone scam is currently being perpetrated in Martinez by a person or persons claiming to be a Drug Enforcement Administration officer, and threatening arrest unless money is wired via Western Union to a specific address.

According to Captain Eric Ghiletta of the Martinez Police, at least one Martinez citizen has received a call from a man claiming to be a DEA agent. The man states that police are standing by to arrest them for purchasing illegal drugs over the Internet. The "agent" then states that if the person reveals which sites they are purchasing the drugs from, and then wires $2,000 via Western Union to a specific address as a fine, the arrest can be avoided. The "agent" apparently tries to make the call sound more realistic by having a police scanner on the background, and pretending to talk to other officers using police codes. 

The call comes in from (559)838-0300. A Google search of this number reveals that a similar scam is occuring all over the country.

If you receive a call from this number, or from anyone whose identity you suspect, never give out personal information until you have independently verified the veracity of that information. And never wire money to anyone you do not personally know.