The FBI is warning the public about a phone scam that spoofs, or fraudulently displays, the FBI's real telephone number on the victim's caller ID.
A St. Louis County victim was scammed out of more than $100,000, according to an FBI news release. The scammers posed as special agents from an FBI satellite office of the FBI Kansas City Division.
In this latest iteration of the scam, the perpetrators said the victim's Social Security number had been stolen and used to purchase property and stocks and open bank accounts in the victim's name. The scammers gave instructions on how to wire the victim's life savings to the "FBI" for safekeeping.
Special Agent in Charge Timothy Langan of the FBI Kansas City Division said, "These are old scams that keep evolving with a new twist. Because there are endless versions of these scams, please remember this the FBI will never ask/demand money for any reason. When someone asks for your money (especially through a wire transfer) or your personal or financial information, be suspicious and verify the legitimacy of the request."
Since spoofed phone numbers belong to a legitimate agency, organization or business, FBI officials are asking those who get these calls to take the next step by calling the organization in question. Look up the phone number instead of the number given, then call the agency, organization or business to verify. Authorities warned that scammers will even threaten or create a sense of urgency to keep a person from ending the call. A legitimate caller, though, should encourage you to take the time to verify.
If you are a victim of a phone or an online scam, you should immediately contact the bank you used to try to recall the wire transfer, then file an online complaint with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov.