Scammers Lure in Victims by Impersonating Police Officers

Phishing scams can take a number of forms and scammers are now impersonating police officers to scare targets into believing they must pay to get out of trouble. Recently reported cases have seen criminals call from a line that appears to be from the police department, asking victims to buy prepaid cards and send them, often bilking people out of hundreds of dollars.

Read More: Don’t Get Poked by Phishing Attacks: Learn Hackers Methods

This is one of many phishing schemes spreading across the country with the sole purpose of taking your money. You can avoid falling prey to these cons with dfndr security’s call blocker feature, which allows you to block spam calls or any number originating from a  caller who may be harassing you or trying to trick you.

Find out more about these scams and what you can do to keep safe.

Arrest Warrant Threats
One of the most common ways con artists try to get your money is by calling and alleging there’s a warrant out for your arrest and you’ll go to jail unless you pay for unpaid parking or speeding tickets. These scammers spoof phone calls that seem like they originate from your local police department and once they’ve hooked you, ask for your credit card number. A legitimate police department will never call to demand payment for arrest warrants since normal legal procedures involve delivering a court summons for a pending case.

Debt Collections Schemes
Another scam you might encounter is from someone claiming to be a police officer or government official notifying you of outstanding debt owed. You’ll receive a phone call demanding debt repayment and if you don’t pay, you’ll be threatened with jail time. In cases where you do owe money, this would never happen since only a third of states jail for unpaid debt, and even the ones that do must complete due process in court and win a lawsuit.

The Parents and Grandparents Scam
If you’re a parent or grandparent, you might get a call informing you that your child or grandchild has been arrested. You’ll then be asked for “bail money” or a bond amount to release the child. Try not to fall for it and remember that these are often horrible scams designed to hit you emotionally.

How to Protect Yourself
If you receive a call from a police officer that’s unexpected, confirm that it’s indeed an officer. Promise the caller you’ll phone back, then look up the number for your local police precinct and call there to confirm the information you were given is legitimate. Chances are, you were the victim of a scam and a full investigation to find the culprits might ensue.

Downloading dfndr security on your mobile device is also effective because the call blocker feature can block scammers every time they try to call with a con. It’s nice to know you have control over who calls you and why.