PENNSYLVANIA (WHP) — Scammers posing as federal law enforcement officers have stolen about $6.5 million from victims across the country, and Pennsylvania State Police said there could be more victims who don’t even realize they’ve been scammed.
The scheme has hit close to home. An 87-year-old woman from Mechanicsburg reportedly lost about $1.5 million in gold, while a 74-year-old woman from Rixford lost about $259,000 in gold and cash.
Now, state police are warning people that a phone call from someone claiming to be an officer—even one with a legitimate-looking number—doesn’t mean the person can be trusted.
“Unfortunately, a lot of numbers can be spoofed. Someone’s calling you saying that they’re in law enforcement. They may not be,” Trooper Megan Frazer told CBS 21.
The scam often starts with a pop-up message on someone’s computer. The person is then contacted by someone pretending to be a federal agent.
The scammer claims the victim’s identity or Social Security number is connected to criminal activity. They may also say the victim’s bank accounts have been compromised.
That’s when the pressure begins.
Victims are told to withdraw their savings, buy gold bars or coins, and hand them over to a courier for supposed safekeeping.
“They’re going to try to scare you,” Frazer said.
And scammers don’t necessarily need to hack into someone’s accounts to make their stories convincing.
“Even if you Google your name, unfortunately, there’s so much information online, even social media. There’s so many ways that scammers can find out your information and your family’s information,” Frazer said.
She said scammers can also use personal interests shared on social media to play on someone’s emotions.
What should you do if you get a suspicious call?Frazer said people should never assume a caller is legitimate simply because the number appears to belong to law enforcement.
Instead, look up the agency’s phone number on its official website and call directly to verify the information.
If you’ve already handed over money or gold, contact your local police department immediately.
“Ultimately, you’re going to contact your local police department, and we’re going to make a report. But you also have to take further steps in making sure that you protect yourself,” Frazer said.
Those steps include contacting your banks, protecting your Social Security information, and changing compromised account information.
But recovering stolen money can be difficult, especially if it has been sent overseas.
“Majority of these scams, unfortunately, go overseas, so it’s kind of a dead end for law enforcement,” Frazer said.