This is the latest in our “How to Spot” series. In this blog, we explore How to Spot: Law Enforcement and Authorities Scams. In these case studies, we highlight an emerging or common scam that we see being used against consumers. The case study includes an example, based on true events, of “How It Can Happen”. And finally, we provide tips on how to avoid becoming a victim. Of course, these scams come in many variations, but this basic knowledge should be helpful in keeping you alert.
How it Works: Police and Authorities Scams
Scammers impersonate law enforcement or government authorities such as the police, FBI, Social Security, IRS or immigration. They can be very sophisticated and may use some of your personal to appear more real. They try to scare you. The goal is to intimidate you and bully you into sending money in a panic. It is critical that you understand how to spot law enforcement and authorities scams
How This Scam Can Happen
I got a phone call from a local number. The caller ID even said it was from the area police department. The caller said he was from the police and that I had warrant out for my arrest. He said that I had skipped a grand jury summons.
He provided me with the judge’s name and address, which I confirmed online. He said I could make an appointment to visit the court and pay a fine. He said that a failure to comply could result in my arrest. And even if I get stopped for speeding, it would likely mean I get arrested.
I planned to take care of this by going to the courthouse which I scheduled for my next available day off. But the very next day I got another, more threatening call from the same number. It was scary because like the previous caller, this person knew a lot of details about me. This person was much more aggressive and said that I needed to immediately take care of the fine because I was driving around with a warrant.
I was so worried and it was overwhelming. The caller explained that I could pay the fine online, so I paid almost $1,200. But the original police officer called back the following day trying to get even more money because of another “mix up” with the payment. So now we were really confused, so I called the courthouse directly and they had no record of any of this. They said this was a common scam that they had seen a few times in our area. It is critical to understand how to spot law enforcement and authorities scams.
How to Protect Yourself From Police and Authorities Scams
Law enforcement and government authorities (and banks, insurance, utilities, etc) virtually never call you. In particular, they do not call and threaten you. If you encounter high pressure tactics meant to create a sense of urgency, take a step back and think it through. Find the law enforcement authorities contact information on their website and confirm everything by calling them yourself. Do not rely on information or contact details provided by someone calling you. Check out some of the other posts from this series here. Also, here is some excellent, additional information on this scam from the Federal Trade Commission.
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