Bakersfield Police warn of text message scam

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — The Bakersfield Police Department has received several reports regarding community members receiving text messages from non-local area codes. The text messages provide the address and name of the victim, and accuse the recipient of being involved in the solicitation of prostitution. The scammer then sends a photograph of graphic violent content and threatens the receiver that unless the scammer is paid, that the victim and their family will be killed. Based upon the number of reports, and different phone numbers associated with the same specific threats, this is a scam.