Scammers posing as police officers and sheriff's deputies are calling Marin County residents and demanding money, prompting a countywide warning from law enforcement on Thursday, July 16.

The Mill Valley Police Department said it has received numerous reports of fraudulent calls in which suspects claim to be law enforcement and pressure victims into handing over cash or gift cards. Mill Valley police said the scam targets residents across Marin County, not just within their jurisdiction.

No legitimate law enforcement agency will ever call to demand payment, collect fines, or request gift cards or wire transfers, the department said in the advisory.

The scam follows a familiar pattern: callers identify themselves as officers or deputies, then use threats or urgency to push victims into paying immediately. The specific pretexts used in the Marin County calls have not been disclosed.

Government impersonation scams cost Americans $920 million in 2025, up from $789 million the year before, according to a Federal Trade Commission report released in June. Older adults face heightened risk. Among victims age 60 and older, losses of $100,000 or more accounted for 68% of that group's total reported fraud losses in 2024, the FTC said.

What to do if you get a suspicious call

Mill Valley police urged residents who receive a call from someone claiming to be law enforcement to hang up immediately. Do not provide money or personal information. Then verify the call by contacting the agency directly.

San Rafael residents can reach the San Rafael Police Department's non-emergency line at (415) 485-3000. The line is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, according to the department's website. The Marin County Sheriff's Office non-emergency line is (415) 479-2311.

Police also encouraged residents to check in with family members, friends, and neighbors who may be more vulnerable to these scams.

Anyone who believes they have been targeted can file a report with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.