FBI Warns New Englanders to beware of law enforcement impersonation scams

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The FBI Boston Division said there had been an increase in reports of scammers targeting New Englanders through unsolicited telephone calls.

The agency said it will never:

• Call or email private citizens to demand payment, threaten arrest, or request personal or sensitive information.
• Request payment via prepaid cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency ATMs to avoid arrest.
• Ask victims to liquidate assets into cash and/or purchase gold bars, silver, or other precious metals.
• Ask you to use large sums of your own money to help catch a criminal.
• Call you about “frozen” Social Security numbers or inheritances.

“The FBI said that the scam caller claims to be a representative of well-known law enforcement and government agencies, including the FBI, to extort money or steal personally identifiable information,” the agency said.

The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center said that 17,367 people reported being victims of government impersonation scams in 2024, with losses totaling $405,624,084.

Members of the public seeking to confirm that they have been contacted by an actual FBI employee are encouraged to call the FBI Boston Division at 857-386-2000 and ask to be connected directly.

“If you think you are a victim of this scam and suffered a financial loss, cease all contact with the scammers immediately, notify your financial institutions and safeguard any financial accounts. Contact your local law enforcement agency, file a police report, and file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov,” the agency said.