By Dean Maddox, Public Safety & Crime Reporter

The Placer County Sheriff’s Office is warning seniors to be on guard against fake tech support scams that have been making the rounds in the county. Deputies say the criminals behind these schemes are calling unsuspecting residents, posing as major companies, and convincing people to hand over remote access to their computers.

Once access is granted, the scammers run phony “tests,” then frighten the victim into believing their system is compromised. The endgame is always the same—pressure the person into paying for repairs or services they don’t need.

The Sheriff’s Office is urging residents to remember:

• No legitimate company will call you out of the blue about computer problems.
• Pop-up warnings demanding you call a phone number are red flags.
• Never provide remote access to your computer or banking information to a stranger.

These scams hit seniors hardest. Not because they’re “gullible,” but because they were raised to trust the voice on the other end of the line. That decency is exactly what these lowlifes prey on, crawling out like roaches and looking for a payday.

Deputies say families can help protect their loved ones by talking about these scams before they happen. Share the warning with parents, grandparents, and neighbors, so nobody’s caught off guard.

The Sheriff’s Office says anyone who gets a call like this should hang up and report it. If you’ve already given out information, contact law enforcement right away.

Placer County has plenty of decent, hardworking folks—and the message is simple: stay sharp, and don’t let scammers make a dime off the people who deserve better.