Police have warned that phone scammers are calling D.C. residents using “spoofing” technology, which makes it look as if they’re calling from a Police Department number. The police also asked people to be wary of callers seeking personal information or money over the phone.
According to police, scammers can say that some abandoned car registered in call recipient’s name has been seized with drugs inside. They may also tell their victims that their Social Security number has been “frozen.”
“The caller may actually call from a number appearing as ‘911’ while still on the line, then inquire who was calling on the other line, and threaten arrest if cooperation is not given,” D.C. police said in a statement Wednesday.
The police added that the spoofed numbers are mostly from overseas locations, although the incoming phone numbers might show a 202 area code.
Residents have been cautioned against taking any calls which claim to be coming from D.C. police or any other law enforcement agencies. Those who have been targeted by scammers have been asked to report incidents online to the Treasury Department or to the Federal Trade Commission.