Brawley scammers going door-to-door to steal personal information
Karina Bazarte
BRAWLEY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – A new and disturbing scam is making the rounds and this time, it’s happening right at your front door.
A local from Brawley says these scammers are knocking on your door asking for personal information such as your ID.
Brawley police say scammers are posing as social or government workers knocking on doors and asking residents for personal information.
“They will have iPads with them and they will try to get your information. They will say, ‘Hey, we are with Department [of] Social Services. We are offering this program where we can get you a free iPad or watch. All we need to do is take a phone of your driver’s license the front and back of it,'” said Cmdr. Juan Morales of the Brawley Police Department (BPD).
That is not the only thing they want to see, these scammers are also asking to see your EBT information and other information tied to social services programs.
That is exactly what happened to a local couple last week.
He says two women showed up at his door claiming he and his wife could get a free iPad if they gave up personal information.
“She had mentioned she didn’t have any of those cards on her and what we caught on is that they said we can verify it online and online website or if you even have medical we can verify it through medical and we have to take a picture of it,” said Ethan Marquez, a Brawley resident.
BPD says social or government workers will never knock on your door and ask for personal information.
Police are urging residents to verify the company these scammers are claiming to represent, write down their license plate numbers, and contact local law enforcement right away.