Police warn of scam from individuals claiming to be Border Protection agents
EXCELSIOR SPRINGS, Mo. (KCTV) - A scam that emerged in Texas a few years ago has now begun targeting residents in the metro, with callers claiming to be Border Protection agents.
The Excelsior Springs, Missouri, Police Department announced on Thursday, June 12, that investigators have been made aware of a telephone scam that started to target residents. The scammers on the other end of the phone claim to be U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents with an intercepted package full of narcotics.
Those who do receive a call like this have been warned by law enforcement officials to hang up immediately. No personal information should ever be provided over the phone.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection leaders said they were made aware of the scam in March 2023 as it began to circulate in Texas.
“We are seeing a spike of phone calls from concerned citizens about scammers posing as CBP employees seeking information about suspected illegal activity,” said CBP Houston Director of Field Operations Jud Murdock said at the time. “If CBP suspects illegal activity, we will not call a suspect or a victim requesting money or social security numbers. To be clear, CBP will not make telephone calls threatening citizens that law enforcement is on the way or promising money for information. Anyone receiving a call from U.S. Customs and Border Protection about a shipment of drugs or money should recognize that it is a scam, regardless of how authentic the caller may sound.”
Law enforcement officials said they will never call residents out of the blue with promises of money or threats, ask for personal information or use gift cards, cryptocurrency or wire transfers. Community have been warned not to trust caller ID as scammers can spoof their numbers to look real - even if they are not.
Residents have been urged to check with CBP by searching for the agency online and calling the listed number. Never use the callback feature on a number believed to belong to a scammer.
Phone scams can be reported to the Federal Trade Commission HERE.
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