SCAM ALERT | Police Impersonator Phone Scam

Tuesday, September 12, 2023

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) would like to warn the public about a financial telephone scam, where callers posing as representatives of MPD falsely assert criminal legal action in exchange for monetary funds.

The Metropolitan Police Department has been notified of scammers impersonating members of MPD who have attempted to extort individuals, claiming that federal subpoenas and warrants have been issued against them. These calls are fake and not from anyone at MPD.

The Metropolitan Police Department will never solicit anyone for monetary funds or social security numbers.

If you happen to receive unsolicited phone calls similar in nature: 

  1. Don’t give in to pressure to take immediate action.

  2. Don’t engage in any conversation, as scammers may record your response.

  3. Don’t provide your credit card number, bank account information, social security number, or other personal information to a caller.

  4. Don’t send money if a caller tells you to wire money or pay with a prepaid debit card or transfer any funds to a Bitcoin account.

  5. Don’t travel to any location the caller asked you to go to.

Instead call your local police department immediately to report this crime.

If you have been a victim of this scam in the District of Columbia, please contact the Financial and Cyber Crimes Unit at 202-727-4159 or mpd.fraud-unit@dc.gov