The Waterford Police Department is alerting the community to a spate of phone scams where fraudsters pose as law enforcement officers, claiming their targets have failed to report for jury duty. As reported by CBS News Detroit, these impersonators have been contacting residents, wielding the real names of department members, and coercing them to dial a phone number that's not associated with any official agency.
"The Waterford Police Department does not contact anyone regarding jury duty, for any reason," the department emphasized, ensuring that residents are aware of the deceptive nature of these calls, as noted by CBS News Detroit. The scammers possess the victim's name, address, and other personal data, intensifying the scam's believability, and the perpetrators direct potential victims to call 248-814-2780, a number wholly unconnected to the police, as per a report by WXYZ. Despite the correct use of officer names, they notably give fictitious ranks.
At present, there is no knowledge of anyone having followed through with the call to that particular number, or as to what subsequent steps the scam might involve. The Waterford Police Department's statement, obtained by FOX 2 Detroit, made it clear that "no law enforcement agency or court will communicate by phone regarding jury duty, outstanding warrants, fines or fees owed, or any other court matter."
Authorities are stressing that the best countermeasure against this scheme is simple: hang up the phone, do not engage further, and delete any unfamiliar texts and emails. The scammers' tactics have broadened to include various modes of communication, and impersonating not just police officers but also the FBI, IRS, and court officials. Increasing in frequency, they leverage fear, a sense of urgency, and intimidation to achieve their deceitful ends. "Our best advice is to hang-up," police say. "Do not engage in conversation with these people. Delete text messages and emails that are unfamiliar to you," as mentioned by FOX 2 Detroit.
