Boston police say scammers posing as officers or court staff are demanding instant payment, now even in gold bars. Here is how to spot the call.
The Boston Police Department says more people are getting calls from fake police officers and court officials who demand money right away. The callers say you face arrest, and the only way out is to pay now. Police say real agencies never work this way.
Callers often claim there is a warrant for your arrest. Some threaten jail time. Others say you missed jury duty and must pay immediately to fix it. The calls come mostly by phone.
One recent case went further. The scammers asked for payment in bitcoin, a type of digital money. They also forced the victim into a Zoom video meeting made to look like a court hearing.
Scammers work to look official. They may give fake case numbers or badge numbers. They may use the names of real officers. They can also fake the phone number, so the call looks like it comes from a real agency on your screen.
Police say caller ID should not be trusted on its own. A familiar number or a real officer's name does not prove the call is genuine.
Victims are pushed to pay fast and in ways that are hard to undo. Police list these red flags:
Anyone with a phone can get one of these calls. The people most at risk are those who may panic at the thought of an arrest or a jury duty problem. That includes older adults, so families may want to talk about this together. Police say scammers count on fear, urgency and confusion, and that slowing down and checking with a trusted family member or friend can prevent a loss.
The steps are in the alert box above. The core idea is simple: hang up, then contact the agency yourself using a number you know is real. If money or personal details like a Social Security number may be in the wrong hands, the steps explain where to report it. Police also ask residents to share the warning with friends, family and neighbors.
The police notice does not say how many people have been targeted or how much money has been lost. It also does not say whether the calls are limited to Boston. The same tricks could reach people anywhere, so the advice applies wherever you live.
No real police officer or court official will demand instant payment by phone, so hang up and call the agency back on a number you trust.
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