Frustrated Woman (Getty Images)
The BBB Serving New Hampshire has been made aware of an ongoing law enforcement imposter scam targeting residents of Concord and the surrounding area.
The scam:
In a press release published by the City of Concord Police Department on March 12, locals have been receiving phone calls from individuals claiming to be Concord Police Officers. The callers claim that either jury duty or a court appearance was missed, and to avoid being arrested, a fine is owed immediately. The scammers will then demand payment via credit card or another method to clear the violation.
These phone calls are not legitimate. The Concord Police Department states, "no law enforcement agency would contact anyone in this manner and accept payment to clear citations or violations over the phone.”
While the BBB Serving New Hampshire has not received any reports directly about this incident through BBB Scam Tracker, the information provided has many similarities with other law enforcement or government agency impersonation scams that have been reported throughout the U.S. These scams work when imposters, claiming to be representatives of legitimate law enforcement agencies, use high-pressure tactics and threats of arrest or other serious penalties to get unsuspecting victims to send money to deal with the issue. Once payment is made, the money and the scammers are gone, leaving individuals with no way to recoup their losses.
For more information:
The Concord Police Department is asking anyone who has information about these fraudulent phone calls to reach out to them at (603-225-8600) or through the Concord Regional Crime line at (603-226-3100).
To help others become aware of, and not fall victim to, scams such as this, please report your own experience to the BBB Scam Tracker. Additionally, visit the BBB Scam Prevention page to find out ways to better protect yourself from common scams targeting consumers, including similar government agency and law enforcement imposter scams.