Provided/FBI
Separate photos of two individuals accused by the FBI of posing as federal agents as part of a scam.
The Houston FBI office is joining other offices across the country to warn the public about a scam in which people impersonate federal agents and attempt to extort victims for money.
In a news release this week, the Houston FBI office released photos obtained by the Chicago field office of two people accused of impersonating FBI agents. The FBI is asking the public to help identify the individuals.
“Fraudsters posing as law enforcement have been known to contact unsuspecting members of the public and claim that they are suspects or victims of a fraud investigation,” the FBI said in the release. “The communication typically occurs via text message, phone, or email.”
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The FBI said the people accused of impersonating agents may or may not be operating within the U.S.
“Recent reports detail that offenders, who are not always operating in the United States, create fraudulent scenarios, to include posing as bank employees who claim to be working alongside legitimate FBI agents, to gather personal and financial information on the victim,” the FBI said.
Federal agents will never ask individuals to provide any type of payment or personal information via the internet or phone, according to the FBI.
The FBI is asking Houston-area residents to keep the following in mind:
Be suspicious of any unsolicited calls, texts and emails.
Follow your gut: if an unknown person is making statements that don’t sound factual, or if they’re pressuring you to act immediately, end all communication and save them for record.
If claims raise concern, verify the information independently by contacting the appropriate law enforcement agency, bank or company with the contact information publicly known, and not provided by a scammer.
Never give money and/or personal information to someone with whom you did not initiate contact or have independent and direct affiliation.
Those with any information regarding the two people accused of impersonating officers can contact the FBI at 1-800-225-5324 or tips.fbi.gov.