FBI Denver Warns of Scammers Spoofing FBI Phone Numbers and Using Threats and Intimidation to Trick Victims

DENVER—The FBI Denver Division is warning the public of a recent phone scam that spoofs, or
fraudulently displays, the FBI’s real telephone number on the victim’s caller ID. The scammer
impersonates a government official and uses intimidation tactics, such as the threat of arrest,
to demand payment of money purportedly owed to the government. These claims are false and
the calls are not from the FBI.

The FBI Denver Division has seen its main number, (303) 629-7171, spoofed in this manner
recently, as well as the numbers of its Resident Agencies, or satellite offices, throughout
Colorado and Wyoming. Citizens nationwide have been targeted.

This scam is called government impersonation fraud and is a crime in which scammers
impersonate government officials in an attempt to collect money. The scammers often threaten
to extort victims with physical or financial harm or the release of sensitive data about their
intended victim. In some cases the intended target may be told there is a federal warrant for
their arrest, which would be dismissed by the court in exchange for immediate payment to the
caller.

The caller will oftentimes know the full name, extensive background, birthdate, family
members, and/or personal cell phone number of the intended victim. There are a number of
ways individuals with criminal intentions can obtain this information.

Unsuspecting victims may also be told the following:

• Their social security number has been compromised and linked to money laundering.
• Their social security number has been used to open bank accounts and that the government would seize those accounts.
• To protect their money, funds should be transferred to accounts specifically set up by the government, which would be protected until the situation is resolved, at which point the money would then be returned.
• Failure to transfer money could lead to loss of funds and possible arrest.
• To meet with a Social Security Administration Agent to verify identity; once complete, a new SSN would be issued so that a new bank account could be opened.

The public is reminded that the FBI does not call private citizens to request money or threaten
arrest. The FBI reminds the public to limit the amount of personal information provided online,
to include on social media sites.

To Avoid Becoming the Victim of Government Impersonation Fraud and Scams:

• Always be suspicious of unsolicited phone calls.
• Never give money or personal information to someone with whom you don’t have ties
  and did not initiate contact.
• Before signing up for a contest or email distribution list, make sure the business has a policy not to share your information or sell it to a third party.
• Scammers count on your lack of knowledge, so take the time to educate yourself about any offer you receive.
• Trust your instincts: if an unknown caller makes you uncomfortable or says things that don’t sound right, hang up.
• According to the Internet Crimes Complaint Center (IC3), more than 12,000 people nationwide have reported being victims of government impersonation scams in 2019, with losses totaling over $112,000,000

More information about government impersonation schemes and other online frauds can be found at www.fbi.gov. The FBI strongly encourages anyone contacted by a caller who says they are with the FBI or any government agency to verify the information with their local FBI Field Office or the government agency in question.

Additionally, the public should be aware that other law enforcement agencies in our community, such as the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), U.S. Social Security Administration, and local law enforcement agencies are also being impersonated using similar tactics as described above. If you receive a call of this nature, please contact these government agency’s offices and verify a representative of their agency contacted you in order to avoid being victimized.

Contact information for all 56 FBI field offices can be found at www.fbi.gov.
Individuals who have been victimized by this type of scam are encouraged to file a complaint
with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center by visiting https://www.ic3.gov.