Published February 21 2014
In a joint news release with Redmond Police and the King County Sheriff's Office, Bellevue Police report that cities in King County are experiencing a significant increase in reported and unreported phone scams and frauds. The scams vary in nature, but most involve the suspect contacting the victim by phone and notifying them that they are the subject of a government investigation.
The government agency they supposedly represent can vary depending on the victim's location. The caller tells the victim that they have to send money through various means to keep from being arrested. In some cases, the suspects have the ability to alter their caller identification display to be that of the local police department.
If you are receiving unsolicited calls demanding money or requesting personal information or computer access information you should decline.
If you are concerned about the validity of the contact, follow up by contacting the agency that the caller is supposedly representing. Make sure you use a number that you locate, not the one provided by the caller.
Victims who have sent money, please call Bellevue Police to report the incident.