The Gwinnett County Police Department has been fielding complaints about phone scams with calls appearing to come from a GCPD telephone number.
Several people have reportedly received calls allegedly coming from the police department.
The suspect caller attempts to convince people they have missed a court appearance or failed to respond to subpoenas. Interestingly, there have been no validated solicitations of money during the recent string of calls.
In a press release issued today, the GCPD has assured community members that they “will never ask for payment over the phone and are “not involved in sending individuals subpoenas to appear in court.”
They issued the following prevention tips to avoid being victimized by this and other similar scams:
- Be wary of anyone who calls demanding any sort of immediate payment, especially cash by FedEx but also cryptocurrency, gift cards, prepaid debit cards or wire transfer.
- Always request the caller’s identity and consult the represented agency for confirmation. Calling the number which appears on caller ID is not the best option, and probably not a good idea in general.
- Do not disclose personal or financial information by phone or email on unsolicited calls.
- Never hand over bank account numbers, card numbers or wire money to someone whose identity has not been independently confirmed.
To report suspicious activity, call the GCPD and report a suspected scam at 779-513-5700.
More information and warnings about phone scams can be found at this link.
