US Immigration Service Scam
Have you heard of caller ID spoofing? If not, it is a technology in which a person can disguise the true number they are calling from and make it appear to be any number they choose. This includes the ability to make it look like they are calling from the PVEPD. This week, a PVEPD resident received such a call and was scammed out of money. Here are some reminders.
Law enforcement (including federal agencies) does NOT:
- Ask for payment to stop fraudulent activity
- Instruct your local police department to contact you on their behalf
Palos Verdes Estates residents have been receiving phone calls from suspects claiming to be Palos Verdes Estates Police department personnel. The caller states that they are from the Palos Verdes Estates Police department and that the US immigration service was attempting to get in contact with them.
How this scam works:
• Residents will receive multiple phone calls from an unknown number. After they do not answer, they will receive a call with the caller ID “Palos Verdes Estates Police Department” and the person on the line claims to be a PVE Police Officer. These scammers will state that the US Immigration Service or other US government agencies is attempting to get in contact with them.
• These criminals request immediate payment to stop any use of fraudulent activity on personal information. These payments have ranged from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars.
• The scammers instruct the victim to make a payment using a pre-paid gift card such as "Green Dot" typically purchased at your local retail store. The scammer then requests the number on the back of the “Greet Dot” card so they can steal the funds from the cards.
If you receive such a phone call, do not give any personal, credit card, or banking information. If you do become a victim of this scam, contact law enforcement immediately.
