Last Updated on August 16, 2023 by
The San José Police Department Financial Crimes Unit has identified a new fraud scam after receiving multiple reports of suspects impersonating law enforcement officials. Utilizing new technology, the suspects have been able to mask their caller ID displays to appear to be from a law enforcement agency. This new caller ID masking is often referred to as “phone number spoofing.”
In the most recent reports, the suspects have been calling victims and claiming the victims had warrants for their arrest. The scammers threatened to arrest and book the victims into jail unless they paid a specific amount to clear their warrants. In some cases, the scammers may even try to convince their victims to meet at or near official law enforcement buildings in order to appear more official.
SJPD would like to remind the public that law enforcement officers will NEVER call individuals demanding money for warrants to avoid arrest. If you receive a call from someone claiming to be a law enforcement officer who tells you there is a warrant for your arrest, and who demands payment in exchange for not arresting you on that warrant, please notify your local law enforcement agency..
SJPD Fraud Detectives are actively investigating these cases. Anyone with information about these cases or similar cases is asked to contact Detective Wellman #4447 of the San José Police Financial Crimes Unit via email: 4447@sanjoseca.gov or 408-277-4521.
Submit crime tips and remain anonymous by using the P3TIPS mobile app, calling the tip line at (408) 947-STOP, or on www.svcrimestoppers.org. If the information you submit leads to an arrest, you are eligible for a cash reward from the Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers Program.
Content retrieved from: https://www.sjpd.org/Home/Components/News/News/1359/262.
