The Spokane Police Department has alerted locals about a recurring scam. The scam involves phone calls from people posing as U.S. Customs Agents. They tell residents they have a warrant and instruct them to pay a fine to avoid arrest. A second call follows, supposedly from a Spokane Police officer, confirming the first call and urging payment.
The Spokane Police Department has stated these calls are fraudulent. The callers are not U.S. Customs agents or Spokane Police Officers. The department also stressed it does not solicit money over the phone. This scam poses a significant risk as it aims to steal money and potentially identities.
To protect against such scams, the Spokane Police Department has offered advice. Residents should be wary of calls from unknown numbers. They should remember that law enforcement officials will not call to demand payments for fines, warrants, or charges.
Additionally, law enforcement officials will not ask for charitable donations. If residents are unsure about a call from someone claiming to be a law enforcement officer, they should contact the agency the caller claims to represent.