Police warn of law enforcement imposter scams in Boston

BOSTON, MA — The Boston Police Department is alerting residents to a rise in scams involving individuals impersonating law enforcement officers or court officials.

According to police, scammers are contacting victims by phone and claiming there is an active warrant for their arrest, threatening jail time, or stating that immediate payment is needed to resolve an issue such as missed jury duty.

In some cases, the scams have targeted immigrant and foreign student communities, with callers falsely claiming to represent immigration services or law enforcement agencies from a victim’s country of origin.

Authorities said the scammers claim there are visa problems that can only be fixed through prompt payment.
The scams often involve the use of fake case numbers, badge numbers, or other credentials.

Police said scammers may also use the names of actual law enforcement officers or spoof official phone numbers, making the calls appear legitimate.

Victims reported being pressured to send money immediately using methods such as wire transfers, gift cards, cryptocurrency, payment apps, and, more recently, by purchasing gold bars.

The Boston Police Department emphasized that law enforcement and government agencies will never demand immediate payment over the phone or ask for payment through gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or gold.

The department advised residents not to trust caller ID, as information can be faked, and warned against sharing personal or financial information with unsolicited callers, texts, or emails.

Officials recommend anyone who receives a suspicious call claiming to be from law enforcement or a government agency to hang up and contact the agency directly using a verified phone number.

Victims of these scams are urged to file a police report at their local Boston Police station.

Additional help is available through the Federal Trade Commission and IdentityTheft.gov, especially if personal information such as a Social Security number has been compromised.

Community members are encouraged to report suspicious activity to the Boston Police Department or call 911 in an emergency.

Anonymous tips can be submitted by phone, text, or online through the department’s CrimeStoppers program.