02/03/2025
People lose a lot of money to phone scams — sometimes their life savings. Scammers have figured out countless ways to cheat you out of your money over the phone. In some scams, they act friendly and helpful. In others, they threaten or try to scare you. They’ll do what it takes to get your money or your personal information to commit identity theft. Don’t give it to them.
Phone scams are on the rise where someone calls and claims to be from a police department or sheriff's office demanding immediate payment for alleged outstanding fines or warrants, often threatening arrest if payment is not made; no legitimate law enforcement agency will ever call and demand money over the phone.
Key Points:
• Never provide personal information or financial details to anyone claiming to be a police officer who contacts you by phone demanding payment.
• If you receive such a call, hang up immediately and contact your local police department to verify the legitimacy of the call.
• Scammers may use caller ID spoofing technology to make it appear as if the call is coming from a legitimate law enforcement agency.
• Be wary of calls that pressure you to act quickly or threaten immediate arrest if you do not pay.
How to Protect Yourself:
• Do not provide any personal information unless you have initiated contact with the agency and are confident of its legitimacy.
• Verify the caller's identity by contacting the police department directly using a known phone number.
• Report suspicious calls to your local police department and the Federal Trade Commission. https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/
