DELMARVA — The Federal Trade Commission is warning the public about a growing phone scam in which fraudsters pose as local law enforcement officers in an attempt to steal money. The scam begins with a phone call appearing to come from a legitimate local police department. The caller claims to be a sheriff or deputy and says they’ve intercepted a suspicious package with your name on it, allegedly containing money, drugs, or weapons. The caller then threatens arrest unless an immediate fine is paid. Victims are often instructed to pay using cash, cryptocurrency, gift cards, or payment apps like Zelle, Venmo, or Cash App.
Some scammers even use real names of law enforcement officers and manipulate caller ID to make their call appear credible.
The FTC stresses that real police officers do not call to threaten arrest, demand payment, or instruct individuals to send money using these methods.
If you receive a call like this:
- Hang up immediately.
- Do not return the call.
- Verify any claims by contacting your local police department directly using an official website or number.
- Report the incident to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
If you’ve already sent money to a scammer, the FTC urges you to visit their site and read the guide titled What To Do if You Were Scammed.
