SCAM ALERT: Vishing, Phishing, Smishing, and Impersonation Tactics Scams Scammers are impersonating police officers, deputies, and federal agents using spoofed caller IDs, emails, and texts. They may use real names, badge numbers, and legal terminology to create fear and urgency. 🔴 Real law enforcement will NEVER: • Demand immediate payment to avoid arrest or clear a warrant • Request gift cards, crypto, MoneyGram, Western Union, Zelle, Venmo, or mailed cash • Ask for SSNs, banking credentials, or other sensitive information through unsolicited calls or texts • Refuse to let you hang up and independently verify 📞 Vishing: Fake calls and spoofed official numbers demanding payment. 📧 Phishing: Fake electronic notices with malicious links or attachments designed to steal credentials or compromise devices. 📱 Smishing: Fraudulent texts impersonating officials or legal entities. Messages may come from local or unknown numbers to appear legitimate. 🛑 Targeted? 1. Hang up immediately. Don’t engage, argue, or any press buttons. 2. Independently look up the agency’s official published phone number and call it directly. Never use the callback number provided by the scammer. 3. Don’t click unknown links or open suspicious attachments. Delete unsolicited legal texts or notices. 4. Report the scam to local law enforcement and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at When in doubt, stop, verify independently, and don’t pay. Real law enforcement does not demand immediate payment by phone to avoid arrest. ▻ ↧