Superintendent Colonel Melissa Zebley
Dover – The Delaware State Police are issuing the following advisory in response to a recent phone scam trend involving a “spoofed phone number”.
The Delaware State Police have recently been made aware of multiple incidents in which individuals have received phone calls from a Delaware State Police issued number. Only the number appears on the caller ID, and if that number is looked up, it shows that it is a valid Delaware State Police phone number.
Caller ID spoofing is when a caller deliberately falsifies the information transmitted to your caller ID display to disguise their identity as well as appearing as an official organization or entity. Spoofing is often used as part of an attempt to trick someone into giving away valuable personal information so it can be used in fraudulent activity or sold illegally
During these most recent calls the recipient is told that a family member has been in an accident and needs money wired to them due to being injured, for payment of a traffic ticket or for bail. The scammers can be very convincing playing on the emotional vulnerability of the victim.
The Delaware State Police will never request payment for fines, traffic tickets or bail. All these transactions are conducted by the respective court systems and never over the phone. Electronic payments are also never requested via phone for court matters.
If someone is calling regarding a family member, do not offer any personal information about yourself or the family member. Immediately attempt to contact the family to verify their status on your own. Indicators of scam calls are threats, orders to not hang up and other statements about immediacy.
You may not be able to tell right away if an incoming call is spoofed. Be extremely careful about responding to any request for personal identifying information.
https://www.comparitech.com/blog/vpn-privacy/robocalls-analysis/
This information was provided through the Federal Communications Commissions website located at:
https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/spoofing-and-caller-id
Many of these scams are difficult to investigate. They will target persons of all age groups. The Delaware State Police is asking citizens to remember the tips previously mentioned in order to not become a victim of one of these scam artists.
If you suspect you have been a victim of this scam, please contact your local law enforcement agency. Information may also be provided by calling Delaware crime stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333 or via the internet at http://www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com
You can follow the Delaware State Police by clicking on:
Delaware State Police Official Web Site
Please tell us how we’re doing via our Citizen Satisfaction Survey.
Presented by Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Melissa Jaffe
Released: 012320 0953
-End-