Update: Tuolumne County OES Scam Alert A False Alarm

Photo taken by: Tracey Petersen

Update at 4:45 p.m.: The Tuolumne County Office of Emergency Services (OES) sent out a scam alert earlier today warning the public that scammers were posing as OES officials and calling residents and asking for personal information, but it turned out to be staffers from a state disaster/emergency program making those calls.

Tuolumne County OES shared that there was a miscommunication and that this was a false alarm. Instead, Listos California, a program under Cal OES, has mobilized teams of community members to make personalized, unique phone calls, which help lead Californians to sign up for local emergency alerts and receive emergency preparedness tips. Tuolumne County OES Assistant Director, Dore Bietz, stated that the county OES “was not notified of this prior to and that is why we took calls from concerned citizens as serious.” She added, “Please accept our apologies for causing any fear about your personal information. The State of California has been contacted, and we have requested that they communicate in the future prior to any similar action so that we are aware and we can pass on that information to the public.”

The information received was from the voter registration system, not Tuolumne County OES, nor did they get it from our Emergency Alert Notification System. “We are thankful that nothing was compromised,” shared Bietz.

Tuolumne County OES advises that staff will only ask you questions regarding your notification record upon your request. They do not call random residents, asking them for personal information. Any official communication will come from the main office number, 209-533-6395.

Original post at 1:55 p.m.: Sonora, CA – The Tuolumne County Office of Emergency Services (OES) wants to alert the public to suspicious phone calls that have scammers targeting events like this week’s heatwave.

County OES officials say scammers are currently calling residents and posing as either their office or the state OES office. The caller asks for information regarding the emergency alert notification system and wants to verify personal information or ask if you have signed up.

“We will never call you directly asking to verify any information in our emergency alert notification system,” advised Dore Bietz, county OES assistant director. “We will only ask you questions regarding your notification record upon your request. We do not call random residents, asking them for personal information.”

Additionally, Bietz noted that any official communication will come from their main office number, 209-533-6395. She says that the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office, Cal OES, and Everbridge Alert representatives have all been notified and are aware of the situation. Questions can be directed to the Tuolumne County OES at (209) 533-6395, or email OES@co.tuolumne.ca.us.