FBI Warns of Phone Scammers Claiming to Represent the Agency

FBI --  Press Release June 29, 2021 FBI Sacramento FBI Sacramento Press Office (916) 746-8106

FBI Warns of Phone Scammers Claiming to Represent the Agency
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Sacramento Field Office is warning the public to be on alert for a phone scam involving unsolicited calls received from someone claiming to represent the FBI.

In June 2021, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office received a report from a Lincoln resident who suffered a financial loss of $45,500. The victim received an unsolicited call from someone claiming to be with the FBI, who advised that the victim’s identity was allegedly used in a money laundering and drug smuggling operation. According to the caller, the only way to avoid prosecution was to purchase gift cards from various stores and provide the card numbers.

“A call from any official law enforcement agency can set anyone’s nerves on edge and perpetrators of scams know how to exploit those feelings,” said Special Agent in Charge Sean Ragan of the FBI Sacramento Field Office. “We want the communities we serve to know that the FBI will never place an unsolicited call to demand personal information or payment. We also invite the community to call our main office at 916-746-7000 to verify if the claims a caller makes are true.”

These types of scam calls share a common theme. The perpetrator advises an unsuspecting citizen of pending prosecution for an alleged crime or an account that was compromised by criminals and used for illicit transactions. The perpetrator may request personal information and often demands fees to be paid immediately to avoid arrest, prosecution, or financial harm.

Caller identification displays may not be correct. In some cases, the telephone number displayed may appear to be the telephone number of an official government office. This is a technique called “spoofing.”

Always be wary of the information provided by an unsolicited caller. If the caller offers a phone number to verify the information, the FBI advises against using it. Instead, look up the official phone number and call the agency, organization, or business to verify the details of the call. A legitimate caller will encourage the public to take the time to verify.

Anyone who believes they were targeted in a phone scam should report the incident immediately using the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) website at www.ic3.gov.

The following tips are provided to help the public navigate unsolicited phone calls:

Never provide personal information including banking information, Social Security numbers, or other personally identifiable information to anyone that you do not know.
Never obtain gift cards to provide remote payment.
Always approach any unsolicited telephone call with caution.
Always feel free to discontinue or “hang up” any unsolicited call.
Always contact law enforcement with any concerns.
Always report scams and attempted scams to www.ic3.gov.
More information about government impersonation schemes and other online fraud schemes can be found at https://www.fbi.gov/scams-and-safety/common-fraud-schemes.