Fort Smith – The U.S. Marshals Service is alerting the public to several imposter scams involving individuals claiming to be specifically the current U.S. Marshal, which is Gary Grimes (or the U.S. Marshals Service in general).
Scam callers have been known to previously identify themselves as court officers, or other law enforcement officials. We are urging the public to report the calls not only to their local U.S. Marshals Service office, but also to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
The FTC has the ability to detect patterns of fraud from the information collected and share that data with law enforcement.
“These are not victimless crimes,” said Gary Grimes, U. S. Marshal.
Callers are using the name Gary Grimes or the U.S. Marshals Service to advise the public they have pending civil and/or criminal subpoenas and perhaps other court related documents pending against them. Callers have previously mandated payment in lieu of service of these court related documents or to avoid appearance in court. Scam callers have often indicated the fees owed can be paid via telephone with a credit card, debit card, or even a gift card.
These phone scams are just that – scams. The U.S. Marshal, Gary Grimes, nor the U.S. Marshals Service in general will not place anonymous calls stating any of the above demands.
Those owing fines will always be contacted via official mail first or contacted in person (not by phone), and those who have business with the court, whether it is a criminal or civil subpoena or any other pending case, will be contacted in person by law enforcement professionals more than willing to properly identify themselves with credentials showing their agency, name, title, badge number and photograph.
During these calls, scammers will sometimes attempt to collect a fine in lieu of arrest for failing to report for jury duty or other offenses. They then tell victims they can avoid arrest by purchasing a prepaid debit card, credit card, or gift card and read the card number over the phone to satisfy the fine.
“The U.S. Marshals would never ask for a credit/debit or gift card number or banking routing numbers or ask for funds to be wired for any purpose, said Grimes. If the caller is urging you to provide this type of information or any other personal or financial information, hang up and report the call to the Marshals and the FTC. You can even report to both agencies anonymously.”
Scammers use many tactics to sound credible. They sometimes provide information like badge numbers, names of actual law enforcement officials and federal judges, and courthouse addresses. They may also spoof their phone numbers to appear on caller ID as if they are calling from the court or a government agency.
If you believe you were a victim of such a scam, you are encouraged to report the incident to your local U.S. Marshals Service office and to the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov
Things to remember:
- U.S. Marshals will never ask for credit/debit card/gift card numbers, wire transfers, or bank routing numbers for any purpose.
- Do not divulge personal or financial information to unknown callers.
- Report scam phone calls to your local U.S. Marshals Service office and to the Federal Trade Commission.
- You can remain anonymous when you report.
- Authenticate the call by asking for the court case or filing number, then call the clerk of the court’s office in your area, state or federal, and verify the court order given by the caller.
I always play along with these phone scammers and tell them that Dick Casull and I would like to pay them in person with cash and that usually ends the scam immediately.
Clever.
They caught a couple of those scumbags the other day here in Sarasota County, Florida Now get this; one of these mopes was incarcerated!
I’d believe it. After all, we live in a world where half the country thinks boys don’t always have penises and girls don’t always have vaginas.
I’ve read articles that say these phony scammers will call a person up and say there is a warrent out for their arrest, and if they pay Iin cash or with a prepaid gift credit card they won’t be arrested. Huh??
Next it says they want your address so the court person can pick up payment.
So they have your phone number but not your address?
How about saying you will meet them at the police station? Happened to someone I know. the scammer hung up.
They also use “fake phone numbers” that show up on caller ID.
All these scams are done by organized crime aka the mob. That’s why the Feds never put an end to it.