Federal officials warn Georgians of scam impersonating prosecutors and law enforcement

Officials say scammers are spoofing government phone numbers and posing as prosecutors or agents to demand money and sensitive information.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Federal authorities are warning the public about scammers impersonating prosecutors and law enforcement officers in an effort to steal money and personal information.

According to news releases from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia and the FBI, scammers are contacting people by phone, text message or email and falsely claiming the recipient is either a victim of fraud or a suspect in an ongoing investigation.

The scammers often pressure victims over multiple contacts before asking for sensitive information, including bank account details, credit card numbers or direct payments. Some calls appear to come from legitimate government phone numbers through caller ID “spoofing,” and scammers may use real names, titles, and badge numbers to appear credible, the releases said.

“No one in the U.S. Attorney’s Office will contact a citizen with demands for bank account information and money,” U.S. Attorney William R. ‘Will’ Keyes said. He urged anyone who receives such a call or email to report it immediately to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.

The FBI says similar schemes include jury duty scams, where fraudsters claim a person failed to appear for jury service and must pay fines to avoid arrest.

“These fraudsters are capitalizing on fear and intimidation,” FBI Atlanta Acting Special Agent in Charge Peter Ellis said. “The FBI will actively pursue and charge those who participate in such criminal activity.”

Anyone who believes they may have been targeted or victimized is encouraged to file a report with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.