* SCAM CRIME ALERT ** This is a crime alert to make the public aware of a scam going around the DFW area, including Plano. Recently, we have had reports where a subject contacts a resident and claims to be from a government agency such as the police/sheriff’s department, FBI, or IRS. These subjects advise that the resident has a complaint filed against them and an arrest warrant is pending. They are then advised they owe money related to the “investigation against them” an…d asks them to send money via a MoneyPak, Money Gram, Western Union, or even put money on a gift card and provide the caller with the gift card number. These callers may use real and publicly known Government officials names, such as Police Chiefs and Sheriffs, or use actual officers and employees names from the respective agencies.
If you receive a call such as this, please obtain the callers’ name, ID#, and a callback number. After obtaining that information, contact the main number for the agency to whom the caller has represented themselves as affiliated with and get verification. You might even notice that when they call you, the caller ID on your phone indicates you are receiving the call from that agency. Please understand that is not always the case as phone numbers can be “spoofed” to make you think it is legitimate.
Please pass this information to your friends, family, and co-workers so we can stop this scam and reduce the chances of someone becoming a victim.