Don't Be a Victim of a Telephone Scam!
Did you receive a phone call from someone claiming to be a law enforcement officer? Were you accused of a crime and pressured to pay fines or fees with gift cards? You may be a victim of a scam.
Scammers are increasingly impersonating government officials (police, FBI, Social Security Administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, etc.) to trick people into paying for legal matters with gift cards.
Here's how the scam works:<br />• The Call: You receive a call, email, or text from someone claiming to be a law enforcement officer or government representative.<br />• The Accusation: You are falsely accused of a crime, such as missing jury duty, involvement in fraud, or having an outstanding warrant.<br />• The Demand: The scammer demands immediate payment to avoid arrest or legal consequences.<br />• The Payment: They insist on payment through gift cards (Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, etc.) or cryptocurrency.<br />Remember:<br />• No legitimate law enforcement officer will: <br />o Demand payment for any legal matter, especially through gift cards.<br />o Ask for payment over the phone.<br />o Threaten you with immediate arrest.<br />• If you receive a suspicious call: <br />o Do not answer calls from unknown numbers. Let them leave a message so you can verify the information.<br />o Do not click on text links from numbers you do not know. Instead, click “delete and report as junk.” <br />o Do not provide any personal information.<br />o Do not purchase any gift cards for payment of alleged crimes or misconduct.<br />o Hang up immediately.<br />o Contact your local law enforcement agency or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Written by Shiree Lind, Community Outreach Program Specialist, Irvine Police Department
Don't Be a Victim of a Telephone Scam!
Did you receive a phone call from someone claiming to be a law enforcement officer? Were you accused of a crime and pressured to pay fines or fees with gift cards? You may be a victim of a scam.
Scammers are increasingly impersonating government officials (police, FBI, Social Security Administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, etc.) to trick people into paying for legal matters with gift cards.
Here's how the scam works:
• The Call: You receive a call, email, or text from someone claiming to be a law enforcement officer or government representative.
• The Accusation: You are falsely accused of a crime, such as missing jury duty, involvement in fraud, or having an outstanding warrant.
• The Demand: The scammer demands immediate payment to avoid arrest or legal consequences.
• The Payment: They insist on payment through gift cards (Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, etc.) or cryptocurrency.
Remember:
• No legitimate law enforcement officer will:
o Demand payment for any legal matter, especially through gift cards.
o Ask for payment over the phone.
o Threaten you with immediate arrest.
• If you receive a suspicious call:
o Do not answer calls from unknown numbers. Let them leave a message so you can verify the information.
o Do not click on text links from numbers you do not know. Instead, click “delete and report as junk.”
o Do not provide any personal information.
o Do not purchase any gift cards for payment of alleged crimes or misconduct.
o Hang up immediately.
o Contact your local law enforcement agency or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Written by Shiree Lind, Community Outreach Program Specialist, Irvine Police Department
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