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KPD Warns of Phone Scam Where Caller Claims to Be Law Enforcement

Over the past week, the Knoxville Police Department has received at least three reports of phone scammers claiming to be law enforcement officers who successfully swindled money from victims.

In one report, an elderly woman received a call from a person impersonating a Knox County Sheriff’s Office deputy, who claimed to be an investigator. The scammer claimed that the victim owed money for unpaid fines and a warrant would be issued for her arrest if she did not pay restitution. The suspect then instructed the victim to withdraw $900 in cash and send payment to him through a kiosk located at the Time Out Deli at 1500 E. Magnolia, which is in fact a Bit Coin ATM. The victim complied with those instructions before later reporting the scam.

In a second report, another elderly woman received a call from someone claiming to be a KCSO Captain. In this instance, the suspect claimed that the victim had a warrant for missing jury duty, and that she would be required to pay a fine. Again, in this case, the woman was instructed to withdraw $900 and send it to the scammer through the Bit Coin ATM at Time Out Deli. The victim from that incident ultimately paid the scammer $1,800 prior to reporting the crime.

A recent number used in a scam call claiming to be a KSCO Sergeant was 865-248-3146.

This is a common tactic used by scammers, who routinely pose as police officers, federal agencies or some other person of authority to make the call seem legitimate. They also pose some kind of threat that requires immediate action in the form of money. Scammers also almost always request for money to be paid in non-traditional ways, such as pre-paid gift cards, Bit Coin, money transfers, Green Dot cards or other virtually untraceable means.

As a reminder, the KPD or any other local, state or federal law enforcement agency will never call you to request or demand money, even if there is a warrant for your arrest. Additionally, legitimate sources will also not request for money owed to be paid over the phone or via abnormal avenues, such as Green Dot cards or Bit Coin.

Do not fall victim to these scam attempts. Remember to never give out personal or financial information to unverified sources, resist the urge to act immediately to a perceived threat, no matter how legitimate or urgent that threat appears, verify the caller’s identity and never send cash, gift cards or money transfers to unvetted sources.

If you or someone you know receives a scam call or falls victim to a scam attempt, it should be reported immediately to your local law enforcement agency as well as the Federal Trade Commission at www.reportfraud.ftc.gov. To file a report with the KPD, please call 865-215-7268.

Posted by serland On 19 January, 2022 at 5:58 PM