LOS ANGELES – The FBI’s Los Angeles office is warning the public about a phone scam that fraudulently displays the agency’s real telephone number on the victim’s caller ID.
The scammer impersonates a government official and uses intimidation tactics to demand payment of money purportedly owed to the government, according to agency officials, who said the scammers have spoofed the phone numbers of FBI offices in California, Montana, Colorado, Texas, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, and Kentucky.
The FBI has seen its main number (310-477-6565) spoofed in this manner, among others.
Although residents have been targeted nationwide, recent cases include a number of victims in California. Intended targets may be told there is a federal warrant for their arrest, which would be dismissed by the court in exchange for immediate payment. The caller often knows the name, background, and personal cell phone number of the intended victim.
According to the FBI, unsuspecting victims may also be told the following:
— That their social security number has been compromised and linked to money laundering.
— That their social security number has been used to open bank accounts and that the government would seize those accounts.
— To protect their money, funds should be transferred to accounts specifically set up by the government which would be protected until the situation is resolved, at which point the money would then be returned.
— Failure to transfer money could lead to loss of funds and possible arrest.
— To meet with a Social Security Administration agent to verify identity; once complete, a new SSN would be issued so that a new bank account could be opened.
The FBI does not call private citizens to request money or threaten arrest. Individuals who have been victimized by this type of scam are encouraged to file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center by visiting https://www.ic3.gov.
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Trumpist#1 says
Got a call saying “you” are in trouble, a warrant was issued and if “you” don’t call back immediately, “you” will be incarcerated
Then it ended by saying “have a blessed day”.
Tim Scott says
LOL…these guys called me. They claim to have a warrant, then not very far into the conversation they ask for your name. I skipped the very obvious “read it off the warrant, dipstick” response and opted for “you better bring the SWAT team _________ because you come alone and I’ll snap your _____ head right off your neck,” and just continued in the “you ______ cops got nothing on me…” vein with all the abuse I could heap in there until they hung up. It was pretty satisfying.
I KnowBetter says
I get these types of calls almost EVERYDAY even telling me to go to Wal-Mart and buy a blue dot card to cover taxes for the 100 million dollars I won.. Be smart people, NEVER send ANYONE money when they call you about monies won, police donations, social security scams or ANYTHING… Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it ALWAYS is….
Alby says
There are also scammers pretending to be “the narcotics office”13106739874 and “the fire association”14842186431 based on the caller id. I got bombarded by calls for almost a week by these people asking to mail in donations.