Tax season usually brings out the scammers.

San Joaquin County District Attorney Tori Verber Salazar brought that to the attention to the Manteca Federated Women’s Club at Wednesday.

“When the phone rings and you don’t recognize the number, do no answer,” said the guest speaker to members of the local service organization at the monthly session at Mountain Mike’s Pizza.

There’s a good reason for that.

Simply picking up the unfamiliar call is enough time for scam artists to download important information off of a phone, including telephone contacts, according to Verber Salazar.

She’s the first woman in San Joaquin County elected D.A., taking the office as the top prosecuting attorney in 2015.

Despite that, Verber Salazar isn’t immune to scammers.

“Everyone of us is a victim,” she said.

The elderly will get hit by this type of fraud. “They’re too trusting – the perception is that they have a lot of money,” said Verber Salazar.

She pointed out that personal and sensitive information are easily attainable online via social media or using Google – Women’s Club President Marlene Moses, for one, was surprised of the speediness of that process.

There’s plenty of scam alerts, according to Verber Salazar, who was joined by her legal assistant Jamie Jaime.

Included are government imposters posing as the IRS, Social Security or Medicare – they’ll often use scare tactics (IRS matters, for example, are usually be conducted by mail, and with it comes the option of an appeal process, Verber Salazar said) – and “Grandparent scam,” where someone will pose as a panicked grandchild in trouble and in need of money (don’t act immediately, verify caller’s identity, and don’t send cash, gift cards or money transfer, said the D.A.).

Other fraud scenarios include computer tech scams with the popup message of “Warning! Your Computer May be Infected” (device can be hacked by clicking on to a link or email); sweepstakes and Lottery scams targeting the intended victim of a prize but a cash payment is needed to unlock the winnings (Verber Salazar noted: there is no such thing as a free lunch, warning not to wire money); Phone scams and “Robocalls,” with the latter using sophisticated technology to dial large numbers of households from anywhere (picking up the call will provide a voice signature, allowing scammers to use this to evade security systems); and Romance scams along with “Phishing” emails and text messages.

She provided some helpful tips for those believing they were scammed:

• Document the names of the people with whom you spoke with along with the name of the business.
• Take screenshots of websites, text messages, emails or other online evidence that might be helpful for investigators. Save any paper documentation.
• Document any phone numbers used.
• Consider a credit freeze.
• Make a report to the FTC and local law enforcement.

“It’s tough to protect yourself (against scammers),” said Verber Salazar, who lives with her family along a vineyard.

She said among the best ways to protect yourself in such cases are to never open suspicious emails or texts – just delete it – and don’t click on to unfamiliar online links or popups.

Members of the Manteca Federated Women’s Club found the info provided Verber Salazar to be beneficial.

They’re part of the California Federation of Women’s Club. The local service organization was founded in 1998 and strives to promote education, preserve natural resources, encourage healthy lifestyles, prevent crime, support the arts, and enrich the quality life throughout Manteca and the surrounding communities.

Those interested in joining or seeking additional information can call Moses at 310.704.4155.