Scam alert

Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey is warning citizens about a new debt-collection scam that’s being used here and throughout the country.

According to a press release, the DA’s office has received complaints that scammers posing as PG&E representatives are calling residences and demanding immediate payment for debts owed. But that’s only one version of the scam. In others, callers have identified themselves as members of the IRS or a local law enforcement agency—demanding money and threatening arrest.

The calls seem to be coming from local lines, but are actually from computer-generated numbers that falsely give that appearance. The scam has been reported as far away as New York and Texas. Ramsey encourages the public to be suspicious of callers seeking money—and even donations—by phone. Citizens should never provide the caller with personal information.