Illinois State Police District 7 Warns the Public About Scammers Using the District’s Number
East Moline – Illinois State Police, District 7 has received several calls from the public concerning suspected scam calls they have received from individuals with a foreign accent claiming to be members of the State Police.
These scammers are using a common technique called “spoofing”. This is where they disguise their phone number to look like another one of their choosing. Usually the number shown on caller ID is some government agency that works with personal information. In this case the Illinois State Police District 7 headquarters number. The scammer then claims there is some police matter that requires the would-be-victims personal information (full name, date of birth, social security number…) to resolve it.
A few factors to consider:
If State Troopers need personal-information, they will collect it at an in-person interview. NEVER over the phone.
These scammers are very aggressive in their techniques to illicit their victims’ to a level of fear that can take them by surprise and gain their personal information. Try to get a name of the “officer” and advise them you will call back. Then hang up. If you are unsure if the call was real or fake, please look up the agency they claimed to be and call them.
***Report Courtesy of the Illinois State Police***
