The Kokomo Police Department has announced that it is investigating complaints concerning a phone scam occurring in Kokomo, and while the scam is currently being investigated in Kokomo, similar scams have been circulating around the region where scammers attempt to impersonate law enforcement officers.
The Kokomo Police issued a public service announcement to warn citizens about a phishing phone scam intended to extort money from the recipient of the call. The scammer may reportedly utilize a fake name or phone number that shows on the caller ID to convince recipients that they are receiving an official correspondence from a law enforcement agency. In the complaints received by the Kokomo Police, the scammer identified themselves as a member of the Kokomo Police Department, and in other regions, such as Boone, Clinton and Carroll counties, the scammers have utilized false names at Sheriff’s Offices, police departments and court offices in an attempt to extort money from victims.
In the Kokomo cases, once the victim answers the phone, the scammer has been reported as informing the victim that a warrant has been issued for their arrest, and the scammer instructs the victim that to avoid being arrested, they must purchase golf from a local business or withdraw a large sum of cash from their personal account. The scammer then asks to meet the victim at a location to exchange the gold or cash to ensure they are not arrested.
The Kokomo Police released multiple steps to take to ensure community members do not fall victim to scams, including:
- Never agree to meet someone at a strange address, especially someone who calls and demands cash payment.
- Offer to provide proof of their legitimacy.
- If you suspect a call is a scam, hang up immediately.
To report fraud or a suspected scam, contact local authorities or the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
