The V.I. Police Department on Thursday warned the public of a telephone scam aimed at residents of the territory in which a person claiming to be a police representative threatens the call recipient with arrest if they do not pay a fine immediately.
In a news release issued on Thursday, VIPD said it has received reports of residents getting telephone calls that appear to be from the department’s main number in St. Thomas – 340-774-2211. The caller is described as a male with a foreign accent, claiming to be a police officer.
The male reportedly claims that the Social Security number of the person receiving the call is compromised in a state on the mainland. He also makes other false accusations and demands that person purchase gift cards (usually in the thousands of dollars) and provide the codes to the cards to avoid prosecution.
In its news release VIPD reminded the public that employees of the VIPD will never:
– Threaten a person with arrest or other legal action if they don’t immediately pay a fine or fee;
– Require payment by retail gift card, cash, wire transfer, internet currency or prepaid debit card; or
– Send official letters or reports containing personally identifiable information via email.
The department urged anyone who receives a call or email they believe to be suspicious, about a problem with your Social Security number or account, hang up or do not respond.
“We encourage the public to report Social Security phone scams to the Social Security Administration or to the VIPD,” the department said in its statement.
