APPLETON — Appleton police are warning residents about a new scam hitting residents of the Fox Valley.
Recently, the Appleton Police Department says they learned about a scam where the caller said they were a member of the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol.
The scammer utilized a real Border Patrol agent’s LinkedIn profile in an attempt to bolster their credibility.
Thankfully, the resident who received the call recognized the situation to be suspicious, did their due diligence, and refused to provide any personal identifying information.
The scammer proceeded to threaten legal action and claimed local law enforcement would be involved, according to Appleton police.
Police remind residents that scammers nowadays will utilize any resources available in order to portray themselves as legitimate, such as citing publicly available online profiles or even “spoofing” real phone numbers, to include government agencies, family members and friends.
Always be cautious when receiving suspicious and irregular requests over the phone.
When in doubt, hang up.
You can always call the police department and speak with an officer if something seems fishy, or if you feel you have been the victim of a scam.
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