Americans are being targeted more than ever by scam phone calls and text messages. These scams are often run by organized crime groups based in China or other countries.
Warnings about these scams now appear almost every day. Because of this growing threat, Google has updated Android phones to help protect users. Google says these scammers take advantage of people who don’t understand how scams work. They aren’t afraid of getting caught because many people are still unaware.
One of the most common tricks used by scammers is pretending to be police officers or government officials. They might say you owe a fine, are at risk of being arrested, or need to give them your personal details. These scams have recently been reported in many parts of the United States.
In New York, police are warning about scam calls where people pretend to be from law enforcement or government agencies. The scammers try to get sensitive personal information, like Social Security numbers, and threaten people who don’t cooperate.
Scammers often make it look like their calls are coming from real police or government phone numbers. This makes the calls seem more believable. Their goal is to scare or confuse people into doing what they say, which can lead to more fraud or identity theft.
If you get a call claiming to be from the police or a government agency and they ask for money or personal details, hang up right away. Then, look up the official phone number for that agency and call them yourself to check.
People in Virginia are also being warned. If you get one of these scam calls, don’t share any personal or financial information. Just hang up. If you’re not sure whether the call is real, end the call and contact the agency directly using a phone number you trust.
The FBI is also warning the public about these scams. Scammers pretend to be government or law enforcement officials and try to get money or personal information from you. They may even fake the caller ID so it looks like the call is coming from a real agency.
The FBI makes it clear: real law enforcement will never call or email you to threaten arrest or ask for money. If this happens to you, stop talking to the scammer immediately. Then, report it to your local police.
