The last few weeks have seen local law enforcement agencies
warning the public about scams that are victimizing local citizens including
the “DMV” scam and scammers posing as Chinese law enforcement.
Recently, the King County Prosecutor’s Office warned consumers
about scammers pretending to represent the FBI, Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation (FDIC), a bank or even Microsoft or the Geek Squad, convincing
victims that their bank account or other financial account has been compromised
and that the victim is in danger of losing the money in the account. The
scammer’s solution to this problem is for the victim to move the funds to a
place of safety with the FBI or FDIC. In reality the victim is handing over
their money to the scammer.
In some locally reported
cases, the victim is told to withdraw cash from the endangered account and to hand
it over to a “courier” who will allegedly turn it over to the FBI or FDIC. When
caught, couriers are often scammed themselves or claim that they have been
hired for gig work, making it hard for detectives to charge them with being part
of the scammer’s organization.
As with other scams, the scammers reported by the Prosecutor’s
Office work hard to implement social engineering techniques to create a sense
of urgency and fear in the victim so that they act without thinking. And to
isolate the victim, the scammer will insist on secrecy so that the victim does
not tell friends or family about what they are doing and to even lie to bank
staff about the true reason for the withdrawal.
Ways that you can use to avoid this scam include:
·
Make sure your computer has up to date malware and virus
protection software.
·
Do not click on links from unknown sources.
·
Ask yourself if the story you are being told really makes sense.
·
If the person on the phone, email, or text seems to instill fear
and urgency, consider that a red flag and cut off communicating.
·
If you think that there might be a problem with your account do
not use the phone number or link provided in the phone call, email, or text. Call
your financial institution from an independent web search or from a document
from financial institution such as a bank statement.
If you realize that you have been scammed REPORT IT!
·
Call 911 right away. While the chances are slim, the police might
be able to intercept the courier to recover your funds.
·
Contact your financial institution.
·
Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission- https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/.
·
Report the scam to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center- https://www.ic3.gov/.
The Seattle Times:
Fedeal Trade Commission:
https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2018/07/government-imposter-scams
FBI, Internet Crime Complaint Center:
Note this public service announcement about scammers impersonating
the Internet Crime Complaint Center:
https://www.ic3.gov/PSA/2025/PSA250418
