The Washington, DC Metropolitan Police Department issued an alert on Tuesday, warning residents about a telephone scam in which callers posing as social workers attempt to extort money from unwary individuals, falsely threatening legal action in exchange for financial compensation.
The department has received several complaints from DC residents alleging that they have been called by someone impersonating a social worker and claiming that they have an active Metro Police warrant out for their arrest. The caller goes on to explain that they can resolve the warrant by making a financial payment.
Members of the public are warned that these are not genuine social workers and they are in no way authorized to resolve warrants on the department’s behalf, whether there is an actual warrant or not.
The DC Metro Police Department advises that if you receive a call of this nature do not give in to any demands to take immediate action, do not engage in any conversation whatsoever as your responses may be recorded, and do not provide your credit card number, debit card information, or bank information.
Moreover, do not provide any other personal information, send any money, or agree to meet with any caller making such a request.
Rather, immediately call your local police department and report this criminal activity. The Washington, DC Metropolitan Police Department never solicits funds from the public.
The department has provided contact information if you or someone you know has been similarly targeted in such a scam:
“Please contact the Financial and Cyber Crimes Unit at 202-727-4159 or mpd.fraud-unit@dc.gov.”