LITTLE ROCK – Attorney General Tim Griffin issued a statement on July 18, 2024, warning Arkansans about a prevalent scam involving callers posing as law enforcement officers and demanding payment to resolve alleged criminal matters.
“I have received reports of an uptick in fraudulent phone calls to Arkansans involving scammers representing themselves as law enforcement officers. These unscrupulous individuals, whether live or in a pre-recorded message, employ common tactics: They claim that the person they have called has committed a criminal offense and pressure them into paying money under threat of being arrested. Or they offer a recently arrested individual the opportunity to enroll in a fake rehabilitation program,” said Griffin.
“Any attempt to defraud consumers is disgusting, but preying on the trust Arkansans have in the law enforcement community is especially heinous. I encourage anyone who receives this type of call not to fall for the scam, hang up on the scammer, and report them to my office for investigation.”
Griffin advises consumers to follow these tips to protect themselves against such fraudulent calls:
- Law enforcement agencies do not ask people to send money for fees or fines using wire transfers, prepaid debit cards, or gift cards.
- Bitcoin is never a legitimate form of payment.
- Do not assume the caller's identity based on Caller ID; verify by independently calling the listed number for the agency they represent.
- If asked to meet, only go to designated police stations and agree to meet inside.
- Do not give any personal information—Social Security number, bank information, driver’s license number—over the phone.
Scammers use illegal robocalls with identical messaging patterns and caller ID spoofing techniques. They mislead victims with pre-recorded messages without prior consent and target numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry, violating federal and state consumer protection laws.
Griffin invites consumers to provide detailed information that can help identify entities perpetrating these fraudulent activities. This includes details such as date and time of calls, calling numbers, and descriptions of messages received. A reporting form is available on their website.
For more information or to file a Consumer Complaint, contact the Office of Attorney General at (501) 682-2007 or oag@arkansasag.gov. Visit www.ArkansasAG.gov for further details.
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