Asheville Police Issue Warning About Fraud Scam

September 1st, 2024, 7:25 PM, Updated September 1st, 2024, 7:42 PM

Scam Alert in Asheville

In an alarming development, the Asheville Police Department in North Carolina has issued a stern warning to locals about a highly sophisticated fraud scam. The perpetrators target victims by falsely claiming there is a federal warrant out for their arrest due to a failure to report for jury duty.

Detailed Modus Operandi of the Scam

The scam has an elaborate setup, intended to fool unsuspecting prefer victims. Scammers reportedly contact potential targets via either phone or email. The fraudsters go to great lengths to maintain the facade, including sending fake arrest warrants that bear actual names of law enforcement officers and prosecutors from North Carolina’s federal system.

Demands for Payment

The scammers demand payment to “avoid jail time.” In many cases, these payments are requested via a virtual currency machine or kiosk. The victims might notice that the scammer has the ability to manipulate the Caller ID, making the call seem as though it originated from a courthouse or a legitimate government agency.

Warning Signs and Preventive Measures

The Asheville Police Department has outlined a few crucial points for local residents to remember should they find themselves in such a situation. The first point to remember is that no legitimate arrest warrants are emailed or texted; instead, they are delivered in person by law enforcement agents.

Also, no law enforcement agency will ever demand payment over the phone. Residents are urged to “be cautious and skeptical of unsolicited calls asking for personal information or payment.” If you receive such a call or an email, the advisory is to immediately hang up and alert the local authorities.

Action Against Scammers

The Asheville Police Department is diligently working towards identifying the culprirtschaftlichen behind the scam. In the meantime, they advise anyone who believes they have fallen victim to such a scam to promptly file a report with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.