SAVANNAH, GA—The Atlanta Division of the FBI is warning the public to be on the alert for a phone scam from a caller claiming to represent the FBI. Our Savannah Resident Agency has received several complaints from citizens about this scam.

Though there are many variations of this scam, the caller in this particular one claims to be an FBI agent and tells the individual to call a telephone number in reference to a tax fraud case against the individual or a warrant will be issued for their arrest.

The scam is not new and continues to evolve as scammers change their tactics to remain successful. Though this particular scam is being reported in Savannah, it is not known how widespread it is.

To avoid becoming the victim of scams like this:

• Always be suspicious of unsolicited phone calls
• Never give money or personal information to someone you don’t know
• Trust your instincts. If it sounds suspicious, hang up

If you feel you are a victim of the blackmail scam, report it to law enforcement. The FBI also asks you to submit the information to the FBI’s Internet Crimes Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov. IC3 helps law enforcement understand and track scams and inform the public.

Additional information regarding fraud schemes is available at https://www.fbi.gov/scams-and-safety