Key Points:
- Across the U.S., scams involving individuals posing as police officers or government officials demanding payment for non-existent violations have been reported.
- This alert provides details of a specific incident involving a Japanese resident in Boston and offers advice to prevent similar scams.
Incident Summary:
- In mid-May, a Japanese resident in Boston received a phone call from someone claiming to be a bank employee, who then transferred the call to someone posing as a police officer. The caller claimed that the resident’s bank account was involved in international fraud and that an arrest warrant had been issued. The caller demanded immediate payment of a fine to avoid arrest.
- Despite initially refusing to make the payment, the resident was repeatedly contacted by the scammers. The phone number displayed appeared to be from a real police station, and the scammers sent images of what seemed to be a police badge. They also had personal information such as the resident’s name, passport number, and address, which led the resident to believe the scam was legitimate.
- The scammers threatened to arrest acquaintances and family members if they were consulted, and demanded continuous Zoom calls to monitor the resident. Eventually, the resident deposited $20,000 into the scammers’ designated account.
Prevention Tips:
- Police officers will never demand payment over the phone to avoid arrest. Scammers often spoof phone numbers to appear as if they are calling from a legitimate police department.
- If you are told that you are involved in a crime or are asked to pay cash to avoid arrest, suspect a scam. Do not transfer money. Instead, report the incident to the police immediately.
- For more information on how to handle such scams, refer to the Boston Police Department and Federal Trade Commission websites:
- Boston Police Department: BPD Community Alert
- Federal Trade Commission: FTC Scam Guidance
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