The FBI’s Columbia field office is issuing a urgent warning to South Carolina residents about a sophisticated new scam. Perpetrators are reportedly “spoofing” official FBI phone numbers, including the main line for the Columbia Field Office, to deceive victims.
In this scheme, individuals receive an initial call informing them they have missed federal jury duty or that an arrest warrant has been issued in their name. Victims are then told to expect a follow-up call from an FBI agent. When this second call comes, the caller ID deceptively displays an authentic FBI phone number, such as that of the Columbia office.
During this second call, the imposter instructs victims to withdraw substantial amounts of cash and convert it into digital currency at specific kiosks, falsely claiming this will help them avoid fines or prosecution. In some instances, victims have also received fraudulent documents via text message, which appear to feature official government seals and letterhead, lending a false sense of legitimacy to the threats.
Reports indicate that victims have lost thousands of dollars through this scam before realizing they have been defrauded.
The FBI emphasizes that it will never demand payment through methods such as gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or cash deposits at kiosks.
The agency advises anyone who receives a call from someone claiming to be with the FBI to immediately hang up. To verify the legitimacy of any contact, individuals should independently find the official number for their local FBI field office and call it directly.
Anyone who believes they may have been targeted or victimized by this or similar scams is urged to report the incident to the FBI by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI or by submitting a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.
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