FBI Charlotte
Public Affairs Specialist Shelley Lynch
charlottemedia@fbi.gov
March 28, 2016

Phone Scam Spoofing FBI Office Phone Number Expands

The Charlotte Field Office of the FBI is issuing a new warning to North Carolinians to be on alert for a phone scam that spoofs FBI office telephone numbers on the victim’s caller ID. The scam involves someone claiming to be an FBI agent and demanding repayment for a school loan, parking ticket, or other matter and threatens the victim with arrest if the fees are not paid via MoneyGram.

The originating telephone number used by the scammer is displayed or “spoofed” as the telephone number of the Charlotte FBI Field Office, one of its resident agency offices, or even a direct extension of an FBI Charlotte employee.

The public is reminded that the FBI does not call private citizens requesting money. There are a number of ways people with criminal intentions can obtain your name, phone number, or e-mail address. The FBI reminds you to limit the information you freely provide online, including on social media sites. Phone scammers typically use fear, intimidation, and threats to get a victim to send money.

To protect against fraud:

  • Never give out personal information to someone you did not initiate contact with.
  • Be leery of anyone you did not initiate contact with who asks for payment using a third party such as MoneyGram or GreenDot prepaid cards.
  • Scammers count on your lack of knowledge, so take the time to educate yourself about any offer you receive.

Individuals receiving such calls or needing to report any Internet related crime can file a complaint through the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.IC3.gov.