Last Updated on August 6, 2021, 11:53 AM | Published: August 6, 2021
OKLAHOMA CITY (Free Press)– The Oklahoma City Police Department is warning of a scam now being carried out in the metro where residents are receiving real-looking but fake police and court documents demanding money.
Law enforcement never reach out and demand that you send money to them.
Master Sergeant Gary Knight with OKCPD has received information from the U.S. Attorney’s office that residents are receiving notices that seem to be official documents, some from the police department and others from the courts.
“Scammers have recently fraudulently produced official-looking, but fictitious, court documents to try to dupe citizens out of money,” wrote Knight in a prepared statement. “Some of the fake documents even purport to contain the signature of a federal judge.”
At present, the version of this scam being used the most is where residents receive an email with a convincing but fake document and then, a follow-up phone call.
This particular group of scams comes in different variations but the key is that someone who is not a member of law enforcement or a agent of the court pretends to be in order to get the victim to send money to what the victim believes is the court.
It is a merging of two older types of scam: the fake email and the fake call from law enforcement, two devices long in use by criminals.
Defense
Knight gives several ways to stay out of the trap the criminals lay with convincing emails and phone calls demanding money:
- Remember that law enforcement will never reach out demanding money.
- Call the law enforcement agency or court to confirm every time you receive such a document.
- If you realize you have been the victim of such a crime, call 911 immediately.
- If you have information about such scams, call Crime Stoppers at (405) 235-7300.
- You can leave a tip online at www.okccrimetips.com.
- If you give a tip, you can remain anonymous and earn a cash reward.
Founder, publisher, and editor of Oklahoma City Free Press. Brett continues to contribute reports and photography to this site as he runs the business.
