A telephone scam that has hit Bryan and College Station police, the Brazos County sheriff’s office, and BTU, is now involving Texas A&M police.
A news release from the University Police Department (UPD) has received multiple reports from individuals who have fielded calls from someone manipulating UPD’s non-emergency number making threats unless they are paid.
News release from Texas A&M police:
The University Police Department (UPD) has received multiple reports from individuals who have received bogus phone calls from individuals claiming to be with a law enforcement agency. All the individuals reported receiving these calls from 979-845-2345, the University Police Department’s non-emergency phone
number. This is a tactic used by con artists to make it appear the victim is receiving the call from a law enforcement agency.
The victims are told they have outstanding arrest warrants and payment must be made promptly through a pre-loaded debit card or wire transfer. If the victim refuses to cooperate, the impersonators threaten arrest, deportation, dismissal of degrees, or dismissal from the university. In many cases, the callers are reported to become aggressive, hostile and insulting.
These con artists can sound convincing. They use fake names and bogus identification badge numbers. They may also know a lot about the individuals they are targeting. These individuals usually alter the caller ID to make it look as though a government or a law enforcement agency is calling.
A government or law enforcement agencies will never:
· Call to demand immediate payment, nor will the agency call about debts owed without first having mailed you a notice.
· Demand that you pay debts without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe.
· Require you to use a specific payment method for your debts, such as with a prepaid debit card.
· Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.