IPSWICH, MA — A resident reported being scammed out of a large sum of money on Thursday.
The victim received a phone call from someone threatening them with an arrest warrant when another call came in using a spoofed number showing the caller was from the Ipswich Police Department and displaying 978-356-434 as the number.
Police said scammers are able to spoof any number to make their claims appear realistic.
In this case, two people were working together to make multiple calls at the same time.
Police said anyone asking for payment in bitcoin, gift cards or requesting banking numbers is conducting a scam.
No government agency will call and demand payment over the phone, according to police.
Police also said they will never call to inform someone they have a warrant and will instead visit the person.
The scammers are pushy and demanding, police said.
Police advised residents to hang up immediately and not answer when the scammers continue to call.
Residents who experience such calls should contact police.
Police said once money is given to scammers, it is almost impossible to track down the criminals as they are often not in the country.
