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Published on November 07, 2024
Knoxville Police Issue Alert Over Scam Calls Posing as Local Law EnforcementSource: Facebook/Knoxville Police Department - TN

The Knoxville Police Department (KPD) has issued a warning about a wave of deceptive phone calls sweeping through the community. These calls, which officials say are the work of scammers posing as law enforcement, have the sole intent to illegally siphon money from victims. According to WVLT, these con artists have taken to impersonating KPD officers, even dropping the names of actual members of the force to lend credibility to their claim.

In an unsettling development, scammers have managed to brilliantly use spoofed numbers, making it seem as if the calls come directly from local law enforcement. This tactic significantly increases the perceived legitimacy of their requests for funds. KPD said payments are being demanded through unconventional methods, "such as a payment app, pre-paid debit cards, cryptocurrency or gift cards," in a bid to stay untraceable, in a statement obtained by WVLT. In what can only be described as a troubling scenario, one particular case involved the scammer instructing the money to be converted into cryptocurrency.

As detailed in a WBIR report, the KPD reminded residents that under no circumstances would a legitimate law enforcement agency call to request money or solicit financial information. They further emphasized the importance of due diligence when faced with such calls and advised the public to report any such incidents at 865-215-7368 for assistance.

Knoxville Police TN continued to reach out via social media, and posted on their official channel regarding the scam, offering guidance on how to avoid falling prey. The message, which can be found through a link at their page, suggests skepticism towards unrecognized calls and advises people to never hastily give out sensitive information.