Whether it comes by way of a text message or a call, Americans are under threat from a plague of attacks targeting their cell phones. Fueled by Chinese organized crime gangs and overseas scammers, warnings now come almost daily. It has prompted Google to update Android phones, warning that these cybercriminals “act without fear of punishment when people are uninformed about fraud and scam tactics.”
Nowhere is that lack of awareness more evident than with scammers pretending to be federal, state or local law enforcement officers, demanding payment for fines or to avoid arrest, or asking for personal information. Multiple warnings have appeared again in recent days, with reports (1,2,3) of such attacks targeting various U.S. states.
The New York State Police warns there is “an ongoing phone spoofing scam in which scammers impersonate members of law enforcement or government agencies in an attempt to solicit sensitive personal information from individuals across New York State and beyond.” These calls “demand personal information such as Social Security numbers and have threatened punitive action against recipients who refuse to comply.”
Attacks spoof real phone numbers “to make it appear as if calls are coming from trusted agencies. These scams are designed to create confusion and fear, often leading victims to comply with demands or share information that can be used to commit further fraud.” If you receive any call purporting to be from law enforcement and making any kind of request, hang up right away and call back using a publicly available number.
That same warning has been issued to citizens in Virginia: “If you receive such a call, hang up immediately. Do not provide any personal or financial information. If you’re ever unsure about the legitimacy of a call, you can always hang up and call us directly.”
The FBI warns “of fraud schemes in which scammers impersonate law enforcement or government officials in attempts to extort money or steal personally identifiable information.” Again, the bureau says “scammers often spoof caller ID information, so fraudulent calls appear to be coming from an agency’s legitimate phone number.”
Their advice is just as clear cut. “Be advised, law enforcement does not call or email individuals threatening arrest or demanding money.” If you ever receive such a call, “cease all contact with the scammers immediately” and then “contact your local law enforcement and file a police report.”