March 5, 2019
Jim Evancho
The Jacksonville Police Department has issued a public service announcement regarding a current scam that is happening in our area.
“The Jacksonville Police Department has received several reports of individuals being called by telephone with someone claiming to be with the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI). If the FBI is investigating a case, they will come to you in person and there will be no question of who they are. Law Enforcement generally does not investigate major cases over the phone”.
Scams like this are common and normally stay within certain constraints to make the potential victim feel pressured. It is important to understand that if anyone contacts you through a telephone communication that it can easily be confirmed. Ask the person which agency they are working for and what location they are (The FBI has field offices in many cities). Advise the caller that you will call them back and hang up. Look up the phone number to the location they gave (NOTE: Do NOT use a number the caller gives you). Call directly into that location and ask to speak to the investigator that called you. If the law enforcement personnel tells you that there is no investigator by that name tell them what just happened so they can start a real investigation.
“Secondly, DO NOT accept checks for large sums of money through the mail from people you don’t know or expecting one from. Majority of these checks are fraudulent, and puts the burden on you once you cash them at your banking institution”.
Never deposit any money into your bank account if you do not fully know where the finances originate from. As JPD has pointed out many of the checks are fraudulent but there is also another concern. Many banks will stamp the check with your account information after they cash it for you. This could potentially give a criminal access to your accounts.
“If you receive phone calls or information in the mail that you believe to be a scam please report the information to: Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) www.ic3.gov.
If you ever have any doubt please don’t hesitate to call the Jacksonville Police Department (256) 435-6448 and we will send an officer or to answer any questions you may have
Chief Marcus Wood”
If you ever have any questions about a possible scam it is not necessary for you to know who specifically to report it to. Contact the Jacksonville Police Department and they can assist you with getting in touch with the proper agency, if they are not able to initiate the investigation. Law Enforcement investigators understand the complexities of jurisdictions and will not be angry with a concerned citizen that does not know who to contact directly. Never be afraid to ask for help from JPD.
