ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Scammers often impersonate law enforcement officers to intimidate victims into giving up personal information, money or both.
Asheville police are alerting the community about a significant increase in scam calls targeting residents. According to a social media post from the Asheville Police Department, scammers are impersonating members of local law enforcement, falsely claiming that the victim has an outstanding warrant or is subject to a pending arrest.
Victims are instructed to resolve the alleged issue by making payments through kiosks, such as Coinstar, where they are directed to convert U.S. currency into cryptocurrency, the post said. The scammer then asks the victim to input a specific phone number at the kiosk to complete the fraudulent transaction. In some cases, scammers may also request payment through gift cards or direct phone transactions.
Key details of the scam:
- Scammers pose as law enforcement officers, often using intimidation tactics.
- Victims are told to pay fines, bonds or court fees immediately to avoid arrest.
- Payments are directed through cryptocurrency kiosks, gift cards or over the phone.
The Asheville Police Department wants to remind the community that law enforcement agencies will never ask anyone to pay fines, bonds or fees using cryptocurrency, gift cards or over the phone. Any such request is a scam.
If you receive a suspicious call of this nature:
- Do not engage. Hang up immediately.
- Verify the claim. Contact your local law enforcement agency directly using official contact numbers. For APD, that non-emergency number is 828-252-1110.
APD is actively investigating these incidents and working to protect residents from falling victim to these scams.