Trending News
There are plenty of scammers out there. This is a reality we must accept. However, it’s our responsibility to avoid them. Even if it’s hard, this is not impossible. Scammers are increasingly creative nowadays.
They constantly find new ways to con people. They even dare to impersonate the authorities for this. The IRS is a famous example. Many scammers passed for IRS agents to trick and steal from innocent people. However, this is not the only institution subject to impersonation.
Scammers have also impersonated police officers. Recent examples are fake police calls. Further on, we will dive deeper into this topic. What do police impersonation calls look like? We will first start with this. Then, we’ll explore prevention methods. Finally, you will learn to spot scammers who pose as police officers.
Phony Police Calls – How Do They Work?
Fake police calls usually follow a typical pattern. They involve a person in need. And that person is someone the victim knows. For example, a close friend or a relative. What is the aim? Making illicit gains. Scammers pose as police officers to ask for money.
Obviously, they can’t ask for a personal lone. Thus, they need a pretext. Hence, they rely on the victim’s friend or relative. Of course, those people are not collaborating with the scammers.
Then, how come the police know them? This information is within easy reach. It’s only a few clicks away. Almost anyone has a social media profile nowadays. So, discovering a person’s friends or relatives is no big deal. Scammers can scan your social posts and quickly pick a name.
Afterward, they use it to make you fret and react. You would help your nephew get out of jail, right? Scammers tell you it’s up to you to save them. The scam revolves around a payment. Usually, this is bail. Now, when people get this request, they become skeptical.
Ok, your friend or relative is in jail. But don’t they have the right to a phone call. Why is the police contacting you directly? And why do they ask for money so bluntly? These are logical questions. However, your emotional side suppresses them. Fear and empathy overcome rational thinking. You just want to help your beloved one. Hence, you consider paying.
Furthermore, the call seems partially legitimate. And this is the factor that accounts for its success. The caller ID looks as if it is really the police. Consequently, you no longer doubt. However, you should. More so, your doubt should double when learning about the payment method. Impersonators often ask for a prepaid card payment.
Avoiding Scammers Who Pose as Police Officers
Let’s stop for a moment and reflect. Why are the police asking for a prepaid card? Is this even a legitimate way to pay bail? It’s pretty unlikely. Usually, state institutions only accept official payments. Bank transfers, cash, cheques. Those are legit, but prepaid cards aren’t.
Moreover, they pose a considerable risk. That is – losing money. Once you make such a payment, your money is gone. You can’t retrieve it. So, refuse to pay. If the claim is accurate, there are alternatives. Even if your friend is far away.
You can make a wire transfer to another county’s police department. But you want to know where your money goes. And for this, you need proof of payment. Therefore, paying by prepaid card is out of the question.
The payment method is not the only red flag. The whole story seems far-fetched. So, you might want to check it. It’s pretty easy to do it. First, hang up. Then, call the police department scammers that claim to work for. Tell them what call you received. Ask for more information. They should be able to check the facts immediately.
More than likely, your beloved one is not even in jail. Furthermore, be warry of additional requests from scammers. They might ask for your credit card information for the bail payment. Obviously, you shouldn’t provide it.
Also, don’t give in to the pressure. Scammers who pose as police officers are pushy. They instigate fear to reach their goal. Don’t panic. Check the facts first. Don’t send any money before you are sure the claim is valid. Finally, don’t trust a call just because it seems to come from the police. Scammers can easily rig caller IDs. Thus, they make it look as if they’re calling from the police.
Closing Thoughts
Scammers can easily impersonate police officers. A simple fake call with an apparently legitimate caller ID can do the trick. This is why you need to be careful. Never trust anyone who asks you to pay by prepaid cards.
And avoid paying altogether before checking the facts. Another easy way to do this is by calling the person in question. The one police officers claim they detained. You will probably find they’re at home or work as usual.
Guest post brought to you by Stratford Management anti-fraud department.
Stratford Management Scam Prevention Tip: How to Spot Scammers Who Pose as Police Officers
Source: Kalayaan News PH
0 Comments