Police Department

Local Scam Re-occurring

Lt. Terry Preuninger, PIO

Friday, February 9, 2024 at 4:52 p.m.

The Spokane Police Department wants to make Spokane residents aware of a possible new scam being used in the area to steal your money and possibly your identity.

In recent days residents have been receiving phone calls from people identifying themselves as U.S. Customs Agents. The caller then advises the resident has a warrant and gives step by step instructions for how to pay a fine to avoid arrest. Almost immediately after the initial phone, call a second call is made to the resident by someone identifying themselves as a Spokane Police officer who advises them the first call was real and they need to pay the fine.

This is NOT a valid phone call and the callers are NOT U. S. Customs agents or Spokane Police Officers. The Spokane Police Department will not solicit money in any way from citizens over the phone.

Some helpful tips to remember to avoid being taken advantage of:

• Be skeptical of phone calls from unidentified or unknown phone numbers.
• Local, state and federal law enforcement officials will not call you and request or demand payments for fines, warrants, pending charges etc.
• Local, state and federal law enforcement officials will not call and solicit funds for charitable donations for causes they are associated with.
• If you are ever concerned about a phone call you receive from someone claiming to be a law enforcement officer, call the agency they claim to represent and report the incident.

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