There have
been multiple scams where the scammers are impersonating law enforcement. The
scammers contact a victim claiming they are a law enforcement officer and there
is an arrest warrant on the victim. The false arrest warrant could be for a
number of different reasons, missing court, jury duty, not paying a fine,
communicating with a juvenile on-line and etc. The scammer tells the victim
they need to pay a fine immediately or else they will be arrested. The victim
is instructed to pay the fine by Green Dot Money Cards, iTune Cards or other
pre-paid gift cards. The victims are instructed to give the card numbers over
the phone. Sometimes the victims are instructed to go to the local Sheriff's
Office or Police Department to meet with the Officer after the card numbers are
given. Once the victims arrive they realize they were the victims of a scam.
Police will
never require a fine to be paid over the phone. If there is a real
investigation the Officer will ask to meet with you in person and discuss the
case but will never demand immediate payment. If there is a legitimate arrest
warrant on someone then law enforcement will never ask for payment to dismiss
the warrant.
Scammers have
impersonated all sorts of law enforcement officers to include local deputy sheriffs,
police officers, FBI, Secret Service and IRS agents.
Remember that police officer will
never demand immediate payment over the phone. If anyone identifies themselves
as a police officer and demands immediate payment then it is a scam. Do not
send any money.
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