BAKERSFIELD, Calif.(KBAK/KBFX) — The Bear Valley Police Department is warning residents about a potential scam involving two people impersonating local law enforcement regarding an outstanding warrant for missing jury duty that must be “settled by midnight.”
The incident was reported on Jan. 27, 2026, at around 8:30 p.m., when a Bear Valley resident received a call from a person identifying himself as “Kern County Sheriff Lieutenant Scott.” The suspected scammer claimed that the resident had an outstanding warrant for failing to appear for jury duty, and it needed to be “settled by midnight.”
The caller then transferred the resident to a second person, who identified themself as “Tehachapi Police Department Sergeant Stewart. The two callers told the resident to go to the Tehachapi Police Department with her children to resolve the issue.
The resident, suspicious of the situation, had a family member contact the Bear Valley PD. An officer was able to speak directly with one of the suspected scammers and asked for identifying information. The caller hung up immediately.
Bear Valley PD asks residents to protect themselves by requesting the following if anyone contacts them claiming to be law enforcement:
Full nameBadge numberAgency
Once they get that information, they can independently verify it by contacting the agency directly.
Do not use phone numbers provided by the caller. Residents should find the number themselves.
Residents should be aware of calls that involve:
Refusal to provide identifying informationA sense of urgency or threats of immediate arrestPressure to stay on the phoneUnusual hours or deadlines (in this case, “by midnight”).
Anyone who received a similar call is asked to report it to the Bear Valley Police Department at its non-emergency line at (661) 861-3110 or visit bvcsd.org/police-department to file a report online.
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If you are being actively threatened or pressured, hang up and call 9-1-1.