Dear Atherton Residents,
As your Chief of Police, I am reaching out to inform you about a concerning increase in scams targeting our elderly community members.
Yesterday, our officers responded to a residence for a report of a financial scam in progress. The elderly resident had clicked on an email link that advised him funds had been transferred out of his PayPal account without authorization. After clicking on the link, he received a phone call from a fake PayPal representative. The scammer told the resident to go to his bank and withdraw $15,000, which he did. He was then instructed to meet a PayPal administrator at his residence and give them the $15,000, as payment for the unauthorized account withdrawal. Fortunately, an alert caregiver contacted the elderly resident’s daughter who contacted the Atherton Police. Our officers immediately responded to the location intercepted the female suspect and took her into custody without incident.
These scams can have devastating emotional and financial consequences, and it is important that we all remain informed and vigilant. Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their methods, often posing as government officials, law enforcement officers, utility company employees, or even relatives in distress. Some of the most common scams we’re seeing include:
Grandparent Scams: Scammers impersonate a grandchild in trouble and request urgent financial help.
Tech Support Scams: Victims are tricked into believing there is an issue with their computer and are asked to provide remote access or payment.
Government Impersonation Scams: Scammers pretend to be from the IRS, Social Security Administration, or law enforcement, demanding payment to avoid arrest or legal trouble.
Prize or Lottery Scams: Victims are told they’ve won a prize but must pay fees or taxes to claim it.
To help prevent becoming a victim, please keep the following in mind:
- Never send money, gift cards, or wire transfers to someone you don’t know personally.
- Verify independently. If you receive a call or message from a loved one claiming to be in trouble, hang up and call them directly using a known number.
- Government agencies will never demand payment over the phone or threaten arrest.
- Do not click on links or open attachments in unsolicited emails or messages.
- Talk to a trusted friend, family member, or call the police before making decisions involving money.
We are committed to protecting our community, especially our vulnerable populations. If you or someone you know has been targeted or victimized by a scam, please report it immediately to our department at 650-688-6500.
We also encourage families to have open conversations about scams and consider assisting elderly loved ones in monitoring suspicious communications.
Thank you for helping us keep our community safe.
Sincerely,
Steven D McCulley
Chief of Police