MEMPHIS, Tenn. — From the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to local law enforcement and Memphis Light, Gas, and Water, several agencies are warning about scams targeting people across the Mid-South.
Here’s a look at what people need to know to avoid becoming a victim.
Scammers Posing As Law Enforcement
The Germantown Police Department (GPD), Bartlett Police (BPD), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) have issued warnings about ongoing scams involving callers posing as law enforcement trying to get money or personal information.
GPD and BPD said they have received reports of callers posing as officers in an attempt to get money or information. BPD said one caller asked for Bitcoin. They want all to know that the departments will never call asking for money or information. If you are concerned about a call or receive one of these calls, contact law enforcement.
The Shelby County Sheriff's Office is also warning about recent email and phone calls from scammers claiming to be with the Sheriff's Office, Shelby County courts, Memphis Police, and other official agencies.
Investigators said one of the more recent involves emails claiming to be from law enforcement directing victims to a phony website. Do not reply to the email, don't click any links, and do not open any attachments.
If you get a call claiming to be from law enforcement asking you to call back, don't do it. The scammers will then know it's a live number, and use it with various other scams.
The SCSO said you should not meet the caller in person or send money or personal information. If you get one of these calls or emails, contact the sheriff's office.
Remember, legitimate law enforcement agencies will not ask for payments over the phone or using gift cards.
The FBI and USMS said scammers have also been calling people in the Memphis area, claiming to be marshals, court officers, or other law enforcement. The scammers will threaten arrest unless a fine is paid due to a claim of identity theft, failing to report for jury duty, or other offenses. The callers will ask the victim to get a prepaid debit cards and read the number over the phone for the fine, or to deposit cash into bitcoin ATMs.
The scammers may sound credible, with badge and case numbers, names of actual officers, addresses, and spoofed phone numbers to appear as if they are calling in an official capacity. They may even have found the victim’s old addresses, phone numbers, or other identifying information to appear legitimate. The scammers may even call once, then have another person call again claiming to be another officer looking into the case.
Officials urge people to report the calls their local FBI office and file a consumer complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
Things to remember:
- The U.S. Marshals Service WILL NEVER ask for credit/debit card/gift card numbers, wire transfers, or bank routing numbers, or to make bitcoin deposits for any purpose.
- NEVER divulge personal or financial information to unknown callers.
- Report scam phone calls to your local FBI office and to the FTC.
- You can remain anonymous when you report.
- Authenticate the call by calling the clerk of the court's office of the U.S. District Court in your area and verify the court order given by the caller.
MLGW Scams
MLGW is urging customers to safeguard the security of their online account information and avoid recent phone scams. MLGW said it never solicits payments via prepaid debit cards or 1-800 numbers.
What you should do:
- Immediately hang up.
- Do not give out personal information.
- Customers who have fallen victim to scammers should report it to the police.
- Residential customers can report any issues by calling 544-6549.
- Regularly monitor online account balances.
To learn more about utility scams, visit mlgw.com/scamalerts. To track or report scams in our area, go to the Memphis Better Business Bureau website at bbb.org/us/tn/memphis/news/scams.
Valentine’s Day/Confidence Scams
The FBI Memphis are warning about romance and confidence scams as Valentine’s Day approaches. These scammers take advantage of people looking for love online on dating websites, apps, and social media, and sometimes in person.
The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) said more than 330 Tennesseans lost a combined $8,892,488 in 2022 to romance scams. Nationally, more than 19,000 victims lost a total of $735,882,192. And those are only the cases which were reported.
To avoid becoming a victim:
- Be careful what you post online.
- Use only dating apps with national reputations, but assume scammers are trolling even those websites looking for potential victims.
- Research the individual’s pictures and profile using other online search tools to ensure someone else’s profile was not spoofed.
- If you suspect a scam, stop contact immediately.
Report scams to the FBI at IC3.gov.
‘Pig Butchering’ Scams
The Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance’s (TDCI) Division of Securities is warning folks about so-called ‘Pig Butchering’ scams.
Pig Butchering is a scam that takes place over a long period of time in order to steal a victim's money repeatedly through online apps. Also known as ‘Killing Pig Plate’ or ‘Sha Zhu Pan,’ officials estimate these scams have cost victims millions of dollars worldwide.
Officials said seniors can be especially vulnerable to these scams. They tend to begin with a text message or voicemail from a ‘wrong number’ about a meeting or other social plan they may have.
The scammer will then begin a conversation when the victim responds, eventually leading to talk of cryptocurrency or investing. The scammer will work the victim over several months until the victim is ‘butchered’ for their life savings.
Learn more about Pig Butchering scams at https://www.tn.gov/commerce/blog/2024/1/31/what-is-a-pig-butchering-scam.html.
Here’s what you need to look out for:
- Out of the blue text messages from a wrong number.
- Building a relationship over time with a stranger via phone or text.
- Encourages potential victim or victims to start investing in cryptocurrency.
- Quickly switches from one platform to another to avoid detection.
Report Pig Butchering scams to your local law enforcement agency or FBI office.
If you suspect that you or a loved one might be a victim of securities or insurance fraud, or if you would like to file a complaint or speak with an investigator, please contact TDCI’s Financial Services Investigations Unit at (615) 741-5900 or visit https://www.tn.gov/commerce/securities/contact-information.html.