Mono County Sheriff Warns of Email Scam Impersonating County Officials
MONO COUNTY, CA — The Mono County Sheriff’s Office has issued a warning about a scam in which individuals are impersonating county officials to fraudulently solicit payments. Sheriff Ingrid Braun reported on September 23, 2025, that the scheme involves realistic-looking emails designed to mislead recipients into believing they are receiving official communication from Mono County.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the fraudulent emails appear to target individuals who currently have active business with the county. The emails reportedly use manufactured county letterhead and attempt to create a false sense of urgency by demanding immediate payment via wire transfer. Officials emphasized that while Mono County may occasionally send invoices through email, they are always expected and come from verified addresses ending in @mono.ca.gov or @monosheriff.org. The county does not accept wire transfers for any business transactions.
Residents and businesses are urged to carefully inspect the sender’s address on any email requesting payment and to avoid clicking on unfamiliar links or attachments. Officials advise contacting county offices directly using the phone numbers and directories provided on the official Mono County website if there is any uncertainty about an email’s legitimacy.
The Sheriff’s Office encourages anyone who has received such a fraudulent email and submitted a payment to report the incident by calling 760-932-7549, option 7. Authorities continue to investigate the matter and are working to ensure residents are informed of potential risks.
