Now There’s A New Type Of Scam Involving Police Imposters Making The Rounds
Lately, the types of scam phone calls can feel as varied as they do endless. But officials are now warning that fraudsters pretending to be police are on the rise, with authorities across the U.S. reporting similar incidents.ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb
In Connecticut’s Coventry County, authentic police cautioned the public about scammers using a spoofing technique to lure local residents into answering their phones. Once on the line, the fake cops asked to verify personal information and even hand over money. Police in Asheville, North Carolina, reported an identical scam that saw imposters calling with news of an outstanding warrant that must be settled immediately with a payment, typically involving a prepaid card and a PIN number.
The Federal Trade Commission also outlines other versions of the scam. In some cases, fraudsters will call requesting money to bail out a family membersometimes even using real names they’ve gathered from social media or the internet. Others will say you’ve been issued a fine for missing jury duty and demand immediate payment.
“It’s unfortunate that scammers try to prey on the fear of others with the threat of jail time,” Capt. Jackie Stepp, Patrol Operations Division Captain for Asheville Police Department, told local CBS affiliate WSPA. “Our officers are not going to call you over the phone to say you owe money and tell you to send the money in.”
Online Scams: Protect Your Finances And Your Identity
With tax season in full swing, UWPD has started to see an uptick in the number of scams targeting our community members. Unfortunately, scams and fraud are a lucrative business for the perpetrators. The Federal Trade Commission received 2.2 million fraud reports from consumers in 2020, totaling more than $3.3 billion in losses.
Here are a few of the most common scams we see on campus:
Be skeptical. And remember: if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Nypd Raises Awareness About The Risk Of Phone Scams
The NYPD is alerting the public to be on guard against scam phone calls from those who falsely claim to be from the Social Security Administration or a local, state or federal law enforcement agency. The department has released a new public awareness video to inform New Yorkers of this scam and to remind them to hang up the phone. Millions of dollars have been stolen by scammers who prey on victims by exploiting the trusted reputation of government agencies. In 2019 year-to-date, the NYPD has received over 200 complaints with losses totaling more than two million dollars related to social security scams. In 2018, the NYPD received only three similar complaints. New Yorkers of all ages, race and gender have fallen victim to this scam.
“Sophisticated phone scams use the trust victims have in their own governmental and law enforcement agencies against them. Victims of this type of phone scam are not limited to senior citizensthese criminals are targeting every strata of society and every demographic is vulnerable,” said Chief of Community Affairs Nilda Hofmann. “The NYPD is committed to working closely with our partners in the financial industries and will not rest until we bring those responsible for these crimes accountable. If you even suspect a call to be fraudulent, don’t take a chance, just hang up.”
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What To Look Out For
Typically in courier fraud, victims will receive a call on their mobile or landline by someone claiming to be from their bank of the police.
The caller states that their systems have spotted a fraudulent payment on the victims card, or that the card is due to expire and needs to be replaced.
Therefore, when the victim dials the real phone number, they are still speaking to the same criminal.
People will be asked to read out their credit or debit card PIN, or enter the details into their phone keypad, and they may also be asked for details of other accounts held within the bank or elsewhere to steal more information.
Some might also be persuaded to withdraw cash to aid the investigation, and forced to lie to their bank about their reasons for withdrawing it.
The caller will then promise to send a police officer or courier to the victim to collect their bank card or money.
Criminals may also withdraw more cash using the card, or use the stolen information to commit identity fraud in the victims name.
If you receive a call of this nature, it is important to hang up the phone immediately and avoid giving any personal information.
They Sound Like Charities But Many Arent Which Means Funds Mostly Get Pocketed
Im calling on behalf of the National Save the Police Fund,* the voice on the phone told me. We support police officers who risk their lives daily protecting our communities. Can the police officers count on you?
Gotten calls like this? So have we all. At the end of 2021, robocalls raising money for police groups were the highest-volume phone messages in most major U.S. markets, according to Nomorobo, a robocall-blocking company that works with AARP on fraud prevention.
These callers typically use language that suggests they are charities raising money directly for local police. But whats the truth.
The answer is that, in many cases, these arent charities at all. Instead, theyre independent, expenditure-only political action committees, or super PACs. Why does this matter? Simple: less scrutiny. Charities face relatively rigorous review from the Internal Revenue Service, and most states require them to register before they can operate there.
Super PACs generally have far fewer state-level reporting requirements and are regulated by the Federal Election Commission , which has fewer enforcement options than the IRS. The result: a rise in super PACs that use sympathetic-sounding causes primarily to line their own pockets .
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I Know The Police Are Going To Charge Me Why Should I Retain A Lawyer
The assistance of a criminal lawyer at an early stage can potentially result in no criminal charges being laid. That being said, in certain situations, criminal charges may be inevitable. However, a criminal lawyer can still be of invaluable assistance as they will advise you on your rights and are capable of making the appropriate arrangements with the police to surrender yourself in the best way possible and avoid unnecessary police measures. Being arrested after the police have raided your home by breaking the door in front of your entire family in the early hours of the morning while youre still in your pyjamas can certainly be avoided. Most importantly, if you are going to be charged, your lawyer will be able to determine whether you will be released from the police station or detained for a bail hearing. In either situation, the assistance of a criminal lawyer will fully prepare you and ultimately ensure that you spend the least amount of time in custody.
If you or anyone you know has received a phone call from a police officer or has been charged with a criminal offence, please contact Farjoud Law at 647-606-6776 and speak to a Criminal Lawyer immediately.
Please note that this article is solely for informational purposes and should not be considered legal advice. Please consult a lawyer prior to acting or relying on any information in order to ensure the protection of your rights and interests.
The Scammers Might Say You’ll Be Arrested If You Don’t Pay Overdue Taxes
Scammers pretending to be from the police might also tell you that you have overdue taxes to pay. They’ll often say that they will arrest you immediately if you don’t pay these taxes and provide the bank details of where to pay the money.
They’ll often use scare tactics like threaten you with immediate arrest or by claiming they’re going to cancel your passport right away.
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How To Spot A Police Impersonation Scam
Police impersonation scammers often use scare tactics to get people to do what they ask. The scammers will try to build up trust by saying they’re from a police force or another place of authority. Sometimes they’ll tell you you’ll be arrested if you don’t go along with what they’re asking you to do. Or they’ll tell you that by doing what they say, you’ll be helping them catch a criminal. Here’s what these police impersonation scams could look like:
Can You Be Compelled To Unlock Your Phone Or Provide Your Password
The police have your phone, now what? Can they make you give them the password or use your fingerprint to unlock your device?
In criminal law, the fifth amendment takes place in order for you to regain control of this situation. You cannot legally be forced or compelled to unlock your phone because it could be self-incriminating to do so. Even if they make it seem like youd be helping yourself by unlocking your phone, its a good idea to refuse to do so until you speak with your lawyer.
However, just because you dont unlock your phone doesnt mean that law enforcement wont be able to access the information on your device. In the digital age, police departments have gotten savvier, and at the federal level, the ability to break into password-protected phones continues to improve despite increased security measures from phone makers.
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Can The Police Stop Me And Ask To Look Through My Phone
The police have a right to stop and question you at any time. However, in most cases you dont actually have to stop or answer any questions. Providing theres no actual reason for the police to think youve committed a crime, your refusal to answer questions cant be used as a reason to search or arrest you.
Police officers have the power to stop and search you if they have reasonable grounds to suspect youre in possession of illegal drugs, a weapon, stolen property or something which can be used to commit a crime.
Whether the police have reasonable grounds to suspect youre involved in a crime or carrying any of the above items or not, they arent legally allowed to look through your phone unless you give them permission or they have obtained necessary legal documents relating to terrorism or child sex offences.
Criminals Are Asking To Use Your Phone Then Sending Cash To Themselves Police Say
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CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Police are warning of a scam unlike any weve heard before.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police say criminals are preying on peoples kindness, robbing them while standing just several feet away from them.
The suspects have gotten away with thousands of dollars, targeting at least a dozen people in the Charlotte area.
Police believe several different suspects are doing this, but the M.O. is pretty much the same: they ask to borrow a victims phone, then use cash apps like Venmo to transfer money to themselves.
The crime is happening all over the Charlotte area, but a majority of the cases are concentrated in the University area. Police believe the crooks are likely targeting young people who might be more likely to lend their phones to a stranger.
Really truly being targeted for their kindness, CMPD Captain Allan Rutledge said. Folks are doing what they think is the right thing to do. being kind and allowing people to utilize their cell phones. So theyll unlock those cell phones hand them to a subject to use within seconds theyre utilizing cash transfer apps to transfer money from the victims account into their own account.
The crimes are brazen, done right in front of the victim, and usually in very public places like grocery stores, gas stations, and local college campuses.
In many of the cases, the victims dont even realize that theyve been targeted for hours in some cases days, Captain Rutledge said.
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Can The Police Call Me From A Privateblocked Or Unknown Number
Yes, you can typically expect your caller ID to show a private or unknown number when receiving a call from a police officer. There may be instances in which the police may contact you with an ordinary number, such as a 416 or 905 area code phone number. This is more common in situations where the police may have reason to believe that the individual they are trying to contact is avoiding them.
Fraud Alert: Calls Soliciting Donations For The National Policing Institute
The National Policing Institute does NOT solicit donations from anyone via phone.
The National Policing Institute, a national, Washington, D.C.-based non-profit organization dedicated to advancing policing through science and innovation, has received information from several individuals who have been contacted by solicitors asking for donations in support of the National Policing Institute, or in some cases the National Police Fund, which we are not affiliated with.
The National Policing Institute does NOT solicit donations from anyone via phone. If you have been contacted via telephone and asked to make donations to the National Policing Institute in Washington, D.C., this is a scam.
Please note that many legitimate local police foundations and organizations may solicit donations from local communities via telephone and mail. If you receive such a call, we encourage you to take note of who is calling , the date and time. We also encourage you to require donation information to be sent to you via U.S. Mail before considering any donation.
The Federal Trade Commission maintains an online reporting system for telemarketing and other scams, which can be found at and many State Attorneys General offer assistance in reporting and responding to fraud.
PRIVACY POLICY AS IT RELATES TO MAKING A DONATION TO THE NATIONAL POLICE FOUNDATION
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Protect Yourselfcall Mike G Law
Our smartphones can feel like an extension of ourselves. Its important to understand that while we can expect to have some sense of privacy on our personal devices, that privacy is limited. Unfortunately, this area of law is still being written and tested. Not every officer knows these laws or abides by them. It can be confusing, and they may think they have more authority than they do. To make sure that youre protected, contact Mike G Law.
Mike G is committed to protecting the rights of the accused. Having spent decades as a prosecutor, he understands how law enforcement will push the limits in order to access a phone without a warrant and to make a case. He also knows that this area of digital law is in flux and constantly changing. Mike G stays on top of the law to better help his clients. He understands the tactics used by law enforcement who are desperate to make a charge stick, and he knows how to fight back.
S To Take If Youve Lost Your Credit Card
If you lose your credit card, notify your bank immediately. Upon notification, the bank should cancel your lost credit card and reissue a new one.
Other things you can do:
- regularly monitor your credit card statements for any transactions that you didn’t make
- carry your cards in a safe place
- keep a list of your bank and credit card numbers in a safe place at home for reference purposes
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The Scammers Might Ask You To Help With A Police Investigation
These scams can often start with someone calling you up, pretending to be the police who are investigating someone at your bank. They’ll sometimes ask you for help to catch the fraudster.
They might tell you that your account is at risk and that you need to move money of your account as soon as possible, so that they can ‘catch the fraudster’. The scammers pretending to be the police might advise you to move your money into a safe account. They’ll often tell you it’s to protect your money. Don’t do it! This is a scam.
Tips To Prevent Credit Card Fraud
Remember these tips when using your credit card in public places or at places of business:
- keep your credit card in a safe place
- limit the number of credit cards you carry with you
- cover the keypad with your hand or body when entering your PIN so no one can see it
- keep your credit card in sight at all times when making a purchase
- report anything you think is suspicious about a credit card device at a business or ATM to the businesss head office and your credit card issuer
At home
Protect yourself from credit card fraud at home by doing the following:
- lock your mailbox if you can to prevent someone from stealing your credit card statements or replacement cards
- sign the back of a new credit card immediately after you get it
- destroy old credit cards that are no longer valid by cutting them up
- keep your credit card statements in a safe place
- shred credit card statements when you no longer need them
Online
When banking or shopping online, look for websites with addresses starting with https or ones that have a padlock image on the address bar. These are signs that your information will be secure.
Protect yourself from credit card fraud online by also doing the following:
Over the telephone
Legitimate credit card companies dont ask for personal information over the phone. Use the telephone number found on the back of your card when you want to contact your credit card issuer.
Protect yourself from credit card fraud when on the telephone by also doing the following:
In general
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