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We know scammers are out there, impersonating the authorities and conjuring up different schemes to fool people into giving them money. They might say they’re calling from the IRS because you owe taxes. Or claim they’re from the FTC, calling to help you recover money lost to a scammer. But now we’re hearing about a new ploy: scammers are impersonating the police! That takes some chutzpah, huh? Here’s how it works.

You get a phone call. Someone you care about is in jail and, they say, you need to pay up to bail him out. The scam-detecting radar in your head immediately goes off. You’re skeptical – but the caller ID says the call is from the police department. And, let’s be honest, your nephew is a knucklehead and you can totally imagine him being arrested. So, you keep listening.

The caller tells you to put money on a prepaid card and give him the card number. Now your scam-detecting radar is going off the charts. You know that police departments — and the federal government, for that matter — don’t tell people to pay with prepaid cards. You also know using a prepaid card is like paying cash — once the money is gone, you can’t get it back.

“But what about the caller ID?” you wonder. In fact, what seems like reliable information about the source of a call isn’t so reliable anymore. Scammers can rig caller ID to look like they’re calling from the police department. Or, really, anywhere — even your own number. Don’t rely on caller ID. It’s not foolproof. Scammers can easily spoof it to try to gain your trust. If it looks like the police are calling, look up the non-emergency phone number (hint: it’s not 9-1-1) and call to find out if the story is legit. You’ll soon learn it’s a scam.

Report the imposter to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

To learn more, read How To Avoid a Government Impersonator Scam.

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The purpose of this blog and its comments section is to inform readers about Federal Trade Commission activity, and share information to help them avoid, report, and recover from fraud, scams, and bad business practices. Your thoughts, ideas, and concerns are welcome, and we encourage comments. But keep in mind, this is a moderated blog. We review all comments before they are posted, and we won’t post comments that don’t comply with our commenting policy. We expect commenters to treat each other and the blog writers with respect.

  • We won’t post off-topic comments, repeated identical comments, or comments that include sales pitches or promotions.
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  • We won’t post threats, defamatory statements, or suggestions or encouragement of illegal activity.
  • We won’t post comments that include personal information, like Social Security numbers, account numbers, home addresses, and email addresses. To file a detailed report about a scam, go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

We don't edit comments to remove objectionable content, so please ensure that your comment contains none of the above. The comments posted on this blog become part of the public domain. To protect your privacy and the privacy of other people, please do not include personal information. Opinions in comments that appear in this blog belong to the individuals who expressed them. They do not belong to or represent views of the Federal Trade Commission.

Nana
March 02, 2017
I just got a call from 404-455-9111, stating he would be here between 3-5 to serve me papers. He stated I needed to call 832-709-1383 with a case number.
gg
March 08, 2017
I received a call from 404-455-9111 today from someone claiming to be from the RI Attorney General's office, and who had details of paperwork I had submitted. They then hung up on me when I questioned them. I called back the officially listed number for the RI Attorney General's office, eventually reaching the person who called me. They assured me that they don't have such a number.
Vatsan
April 13, 2017
I got a call from 281-205-8803. He said his name was John green. He asked my name and I gave it and asked to know more and a refused to provide more details. He insisted about prying more to know myself and when I continued to refuse he said he'll contact my sheriff department and have me arrested and will cease my bank accounts and driver license and my SSN. Should take this seriously?
ctressler
April 13, 2017

In reply to by Vatsan

Never give out or confirm financial or other sensitive information, including your bank account, credit card, or Social Security number, unless you know who you're dealing with. Scam artists  can use your information to commit identity theft — charging your existing credit cards, opening new credit card, checking, or savings accounts, writing fraudulent checks, or taking out loans in your name.

not that gullible
April 27, 2017
My relatives received a call on their land line from "Deputy Michael Campbell at the Columbia County Sheriff's office" looking for me (using a previous version of my name that I haven't used in over 4 years). He was suspiciously pushy but wasn't given much info. They called me with his name and phone number along with his message that it was "urgent." Suspecting it was a scam, I called the Columbia County Sheriff's administrative department directly who confirmed they had no officer by that name and the phone number I was given did not belong to any of their office phones or officers' cell phones. I was then transferred to the fraud department where I left a message for a legit officer with all the details I had (haven't heard back yet, not sure I will). The number given by the scammer was 706-538-2180. It's probably a throw away cell or google voice number but just in case someone searches for it wondering if it's a scam, they'll come across it here. I have to admit that I want to call the number back just for fun and jerk the guy around (and while he's tied up on the phone with me, he's not scamming someone else) but I don't want to reveal my cell or work numbers in the process. Still, the temptation is strong to find out all the scammy details. It's times like these I wish we still had pay phones. *sigh*
not that gullible
April 27, 2017
I think one of the big "tip offs" that it's probably a scam is when the person starts getting angry or threatening. Police and IRS don't get uptight about this kind of thing. If you legitimately owe money, they have procedures to follow that I'm pretty sure don't include temper tantrums on the phone.
Jim P
May 05, 2017
I received a phone call yesterday and they said I had received a grant that I did not have pay back for 60 thousand dollars. I asked how could that be .Since I owed the IRS. And I am now disabled .I finally hung up on them.Today I got a call from an Indian speaking man that told me he was from the sheriff Department and that the IRS was demanding 2 thousand dollars Now.And I stated I am disabled and have nothing to give them .They asked me were I was at home,outside or work? Then told me that the police were on their way to arrest me.I called the telephone number back and when they answered it they new who I was before I even said anything.The called id said Florida #772-212-1637
Iggy
July 05, 2017
I received 2 calls from 646 area saying I was gonna be arrested if I did not return calls on 4 charges. I never been to NYC nor been in trouble. What should I do?
Cindy
July 11, 2017
I was scammed for $1600. They faked the passport and also the house. Because I'm in another country so I can't get there to see how it was. They use this address to reach me. Please help me! This is the address they use: bian @ robins-morton
Kzz
August 15, 2017
Someone called and use my no as for to pretend as police and now what how can I provw its not me that person is calling me to tell me that I am scamming her , seriously dont know what to do in this situation
Passthebullets
August 19, 2017
If a human is talking to you telling you that he's going to arrest you or whatever th e scam is. By a police whistle hold the phone away from your ear and blow as hard as you can in the mouthpiece.
Dodgeman
August 19, 2017
I had a person say that they r a Breckenridge agent and was going to put me on like YouTube,are they true?? They want money to not do it also.
Joey's granny
August 21, 2017
I was told I could get grant money started through Facebook messenger someone asked to add you then lays it out that they got money shows that they did you text this # then they ask you info through text then ask for $700 dollars then keeps harassing you till you threaten to call police then they cuz you out I kept all text and #s going to take to local police department
Amy L
September 21, 2017
I've been called by an unknown number so many times claiming I have an arrest warrant under my name by the IRS. What else can I do besides decline the phone call?
dennyd
January 11, 2018
just got a call saying i have 4 serious charges against me , and if i dont call back the local cops will pick me up ---------------- serious lol
Thunderstorms 1
January 23, 2018
I got a call from a guy in Chicago Illinois claiming to be a detective Collins and told me that I had to pay him money through Western Union for bail I freaked out and sent him money but the money that I sent was in someone else name well after losing a lot of money I self respect and hurting so many people I filed a police report and I also talked to the FBI but yet some how he keeps calling and thearting me what do I do now
FTC Staff
January 25, 2018

In reply to by Thunderstorms 1

If someone threatens you, you can contact the police.

Teet31
January 24, 2018
Someone called me about a 3,000 loan. They put 497$ in my bank account. Then told me I had to send it back to ensure that I was a real person. They told me to go to Walgreens and get a Google play card and put the money on there then send it back and in the next three minutes I will get the three thousand dollars.
FTC Staff
January 25, 2018

In reply to by Teet31

That sounds like a scam. If they send you a bad check, and you send them $497 before your bank finds out it is a bad check, you will lose $497.  If you send them money and the bank finds out later that the check is bad, you will have to repay the bank all the money you withdrew.

BDOG 156
February 04, 2018
I GOT A CALL FROM A 7472019701 thy said I have allagashins against me n I need pay them or I'm going jail
C.C
February 20, 2018
I keep getting calls from people like Scam like after I told them if call the police
allegations ag…
March 02, 2018
Have been getting recorded calls from different numbers on my cell threatening me that I have 4 allegations against me and that they are sending the cops. That I should call them back. Some of these numbers are (828)367-37-31 and (775)4104122
mrharv
March 09, 2018
Getting calls from 515-897-3356 stating if my husband does not return call he will be "arrested by local cops" (their wording). If it was legit I can't imagine them using the slang "cops". Please advise what needs to be done about this. My husband has received at least 4 calls since Nov 2017. Last call came in today 3/9/2018.
Snowman
June 28, 2018
I was in the middle of a FaceTime call with my friend and I got a different call in the middle. I hung up with my friend for a moment to answer the call. It said that if I paid $386, I'd get an inflatable snowman. I started laughing and hung up. Why would I even buy an inflatable snowman for $386 anyway?
Shivani
October 23, 2018
I just now got a call from IRS department stating that I have outstanding tax amount and within 45 min cops will be at my place if I hung up the call or didn't pay the amount. When I told them that IRS always sends letter or notices in written, they said we did but it was bounced back to us as there was no one at the address. the year for which they were asking I was not in the USA even. I told this to them and then they said someone else did this fraud in your name. I hung up the call stating I need to talk to my husband and immediately I started getting calls from +911 and +1011911 stating that its sheriff from Marion County and they are coming to arrest me. I dont know what all this really is?
blah
August 20, 2018
I got a call today (8/20/2018) from a very strange sounding man saying he's calling from the San Francisco Police Department. The off thing was the number did match the SFPD number when I googled it. He passed me onto another man who is supposed to be a senior officer (or investigative officer? i forget) who claimed to be Allan Parish from SFPD. They said that my social security and ID have been found in an abandoned car at the South Texas border. Apparently it had drugs in it too. I'm not sure what they were going to request from me, but when I wanted to know more information about Allan Parish and what exactly his title is at the SFPD, he got testy and said something like "you can track the number, it's the SFPD number", but when I pressed for more information about him, he said "you can hang up the call and the federal government will begin taking immediate legal action against you" and when I kept asking, he hung up. I called the actual SFPD and they verified that it was a scam. They also said that when the police department calls the number will not show on our phone. It'll either say "Unknown caller" or "Blocked."
legrac3
March 06, 2019

In reply to by blah

I received a strangely similar call today (3/6/19). They "patched" me through to the alleged Daryl Fong from his listed number (415) 575-6000. They said a police officer would appear at my door tomorrow morning to deal with the matter, which involved getting new social security numbers and having my assets frozen. He also said that I would have to go through the ADR process with the Texas District Attorney, which struck me as completely odd. The person also got testy as well when I pressed for more information about him and started to speak faster. When I told him that I was an attorney, that was when he promptly hung up the phone. Be careful everyone!
JJ
August 23, 2018
I just got a phone call saying that If I don't call them back that law enforcement will come to get me. 657-242-3935
ajay
September 13, 2018
Just received a call with caller id as 911. I ignored the first time but the caller kept calling. "I am officer ... from 911 call center calling about a serious matter. Please state your name ..." I just answered that their caller id is showing up Unknown and hung up.
Fran
September 17, 2018
A call saying it was the police and they found charges against me and are coming for an arrest and to call them right back. Name of caller: Johnston, V phone # is: 248-292-1157
Feeling scammed!
November 08, 2018
I feel like I've been scammed and I am positive I am scammed, I've been given and been provided with an I.D. of someone else's that may also have been scammed as I did.. can I bring it into my local police department and turn in the I.D. of some one who I think maybe a scammer?
Saty
December 07, 2018
Today I got a call from +911 3 times, I was able to pick last call and guy who called me as David, said that I will be arrested, I said Ok, then says please don't change the location, I responded Ok then he cut the call please don't get into trouble if you get these type of calls, just ignore
godfreygirl143
January 28, 2019
I just received my second call and Caller ID said Alton Police Department. Of course I picked up....and it was a solicitation for health insurance. I called the Police Department and there's nothing they can do. SO tired of solicitor robocalls!!!
Concerned citizen
February 17, 2019
I got a number from 4062058605, they were impersonating the police department of a city where the number isn't even from. I don't understand why people impersonate the police just to try and intimidate you. Do not trust this number!
Crys Washington
May 19, 2019
A man called my daughter’s cellphone Yesterday stating that he was Trent Stevens a homicide detective. He told my daughter he found her friends phone (which he texted her from first requesting a number to call her about her friends murder) at a crime scene and needed information. Once my daughter burst into tears saying her friend was murdered; I quickly took the phone and introduced myself as the mother. He preceded to tell me that he found my daughter’s friends phone at a crime scene and he was shot in the head. Once the conversation ended I asked my daughter to forward me the text messages that he sent from her friends phone number. Once I notice that the details that the guy told me on the phone didn’t match the text messages; I become suspicious. So I called this phone number back that I’m reporting asking for a Trent Stevens. The man who answered the phone said he is not Trent Stevens and he let a homeless man use his phone. His name is Bob and works at a car dealership in Florida. I still felt like something wasn’t right. I called her Friends number and a man answered and said he was a Lyft driver and someone left their phone in his car, so he stole it and he likes it then hung up on me once a mention a homicide detective texted me. So I sent my daughter’s friend ( the one who was suppose to be dead) a message on his Instagram then I video called him. Her friend answered the video call and my daughter was relieved and in tears of joy to see her friend was not dead. Her friend told us he left his phone in a lyft and the driver said he can’t have his phone back after he contacted him about the lost phone. This sick man has been reported to Lyft and the Florida police department for theft and impersonating a homicide detective.
Anne
May 29, 2019
Got 5 or 6 calls from 936-647-1100 stating they are officer Kelly Williams from the ss office and I have fraudulent charges and they are going to file legal charges against me. Called them back all times told them to quit calling and that they were not from the SS office.
KDHEN
June 14, 2019
608-261-9694‬ on my caller ID. Caller said they were the police & had a warrant for my arrest. Said I skipped out on jury duty & would go to jail unless I paid $2,500 now. I hung up & Googled the number. It's to the Madison Police Admin Bldg! I just did jury duty in 2017. Ridiculous.
Tim
July 19, 2019
I have been called two weeks in a row, wont donations for my local Police Department. Phone number (17314195228). Of course I couldn't get a word in edge wise. So I started repeating, But the point is, But the point is, finally he said what is the point. You have called me two weeks in a row for the same thing. I live on a limited income, and I am disable with a broke neck. He wouldn't hearing that so I said come get me I am ready to go to Jail, Let the jail pay all of my Doctors and Medications because i can not afford it. After the call I blocked the number. Just thought this was worth sharing.
aggervatedemployee
August 03, 2019
the number that you call back of 866-487-4511 is actually to a dealership in Columbia South Carolina , this is a scam and trust me the employees are not thrilled to have tones of calls just to be hung up. Dealership has nothing to do with scam and would appreciate it if people would quite calling the number
Tina
August 28, 2019
Recieved a call supposedly from southeast LAPD (2139727828) confirming my name and transferring me to someone else. The guy had a really thick (Nepalese?) accent and seemed unprofessional and rushed to transfer me to give information so I got suspicious and hung up. They then called back 4 times back to back. No way police would harass people like that without leaving a message.
TRYINGTOSCAMME…
October 18, 2019
RECEVED THIS MESSAGE ON MY PHONE POSING AS FAKE CRA, IN TORONTO DOWNTOWN CANADA,UP SCALE AREA FROM THIS 1800 NUMBER: 1877-885-8848 US, TODAY OCT.18TH 2019,PRESS A NUMBER TO SPEAK TO AN AGENT, FOR A ARREST WARREN ISSUE I BELIEVE MONEY PAYMENT WOULD BE INVOLVED, THESE CRIMINALS ARE ROUNDED UP BY THE POLICE, AND SENT TO PRISON AND DEPORTED OUT OF THE COUNTRY, OR PUT IN PRISON AND BANNED FROM ENTERING SUCH AREAS, A SPECIAL TASKFORCE NEEDS TO BE FORMED FOR SUCH CRIMINALS TO REMOVE THEM OUT. POLICE PLEASE TAKE INTEREST TO DO YOUR JOB, THANKS
bhavya
October 31, 2019
i got a call from some number saying that "Did you call to police".i replied no and then she was saying "who made the call" and then disconnected. I didn't call any police or any other unknown number.And the before day i got a call from unknown number and he was speaking some other language which i couldn't understand , the only word i understood is he was mentioning something like "station".
Blairstown46
November 06, 2019
I got a call from someone stating his name and that he was with the American Police Officers Alliance. They wanted a donation of $15.00. I agreed, but they wanted to know for sure if I was going to donate the $15.00. I thought it a little strange, but went ahead. Then they switched me to someone to get my address. I could barely understand them, as they had a heavy foreign accent. I got the letter for donation, but feel it was a scam. I checked on line and the donation center for police officers is not in Wauwatpsa, WI. So I am reporting it and I will not send in any money.
Nav
November 11, 2019
Today i received 4 calls from +12263881186 this number. I didn't picked up and caller left the voicemail for money and treating me for get arrest.
Christey gillespie
January 02, 2020
What if you get a call from a supposed officer saying there are some legal documents that you need to sign for and the officer says hes coming to your residence if he cant reach you there he will come to your place of employment and then he says is you need more information call a 1 844 number and reference incident number x i didnt call or respond back and at the end of the voicemail he said i will see you very soon maam
Greg
July 09, 2020
I received a phone call earlier today from the "police" claiming they called my number stating it had been used as a contact for a prostitute. I don't ever use prostitutes and the first "officer" said I was not in trouble and had me wait to be connected to his "supervisor". This second man, the "supervisor", again said I was not in trouble but that my number had been identified as a contact for a prostitute. I did not remain on the call and hung up because I believe it to be scam call. They attempted to call me again several times from the same number but I did not answer. Would the police ever call and tell me something like this?
freedom
July 28, 2020

In reply to by Greg

I got a call with the same things said from an unknown caller. It was a local police department. They called multiple times after I hung up.
Please don't c…
August 12, 2020
Please don't click the link I get these almost every day they come from random phone numbers and when I block one number they come back