WAKE FOREST, NC – The Wake Forest Police Department (WFPD) is again urging community members to guard against becoming the victim of fraud following several recently reported phone scams involving Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency by callers impersonating local law enforcement officers.
In recent days, several community members have reported receiving calls from someone posing as a member of the Wake County Sheriff’s Office who claims they owe money for missing a jury summons. In a common scenario, the caller, who may use the names of actual law enforcement officers, says a warrant has been issued for their arrest, or soon will be, but they can pay a fine now via Bitcoin or some other form of cryptocurrency and avoid being arrested. Some have even texted a copy of a fake warrant.
Many times, it’s hard to tell what’s a scam and what isn’t - but this is a scam.
No government agency would ever make such calls, text a warrant, or ask anyone to demand payment for missing jury duty, arrest warrants, or any other legal matter. In addition, no legitimate agency will ever request payment through Bitcoin, cryptocurrency, gift cards, wire transfers, or other untraceable methods.
These types of scams are designed to exploit fear and pressure victims into making payments to scammers.
Scammers often use official-sounding language to intimidate victims. They even use information obtained via public record databases to sound credible by claiming that someone has unpaid fines, warrants or outstanding tickets, and that they need to make immediate payments to avoid arrest or legal consequences.
Scammers often instruct their intended victim to make payments through payment apps, prepaid debit cards, gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. Again, legitimate law enforcement agencies do not request payments through these methods.
Finally, many scammers have technology that can manipulate caller ID information to make it appear as though the call is coming from a legitimate police department or government agency. Police recommend that you do not trust caller ID alone.
Don’t become a victim. If you receive a suspicious phone call, do not provide personal information and do not send any money. Instead, ask the caller for their name, badge number, and the department they claim to represent. Hang up and independently verify the information by contacting the Wake Forest Police Department at 919-554-6150. Do not use any phone numbers provided by the caller.
Your safety and financial security are important. Please stay alert and share this information with others who may be targeted.
If you believe that you are a victim of this type of crime, report it to the Wake Forest Police Department at 919-554-6150.