A new scamming tactic: meeting victims in person [Video]

MOSCOW, Idaho – Schemes in which scammers pretend to be law enforcement to steal money from vulnerable people are common, but a new twist on this scam concerns law enforcement.

According to the Moscow police department, some scammers are asking victims to meet them in person. Typically, a scammer who impersonates a government worker and demands money or gift card codes conducts the entire scam online or over the phone.

Moscow police hope that community members help educate each other on the dangers of such scams.

“Please share this scam alert with your loved ones and have a conversation with your elderly parents, neighbors and friends who tend to be most susceptible to these types of scams,” law enforcement said.

Police, federal agents and agencies never ask for gift card codes or money via phone. Any such calls should be ignored.

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