Mendocino City, CA asked in Civil Rights for California

Q: I received a call from a person claiming she was calling from a civil dispatch service looking for a person I never

heard of before and who claims that I' m a relative his! Is this a scammer trying to get personal info. from me?

Related Topics:
1 Lawyer Answer
James L. Arrasmith
PREMIUM
James L. Arrasmith pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
Answered

A: Yes, this situation sounds suspicious and may very well be a scam. Under California law, it is important to protect your personal information and be cautious when receiving unsolicited calls. Scammers often use tactics like claiming to be from a civil dispatch service to gain your trust and obtain your personal details.

Do not provide any personal information or confirm any details about yourself or your relatives. Instead, ask for the caller's name, company, and contact information, and offer to call them back. This can help you verify their legitimacy. Legitimate organizations will not pressure you to provide information on the spot.

If the caller becomes aggressive or refuses to provide their contact details, it is best to end the call immediately. You can report suspicious calls to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and your local law enforcement. Always be vigilant and protect your personal information from potential scams.

Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.

The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.

Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.