DECATUR, Ala. — Decatur police are warning about a new twist on an old scam that's luring in victims.
DPD says that scammers are calling residents of about debts they allegedly owe to Apple Pay and other companies. The scammers then tell potential victims to immediately pay these debts using various methods. When people decline to make any payment, the scammer then claims the “case” is being forwarded to the Decatur Police Department for prosecution.
The new twist?
The individuals call back by spoofing the department’s phone number, claiming to be a Decatur Police Department investigator. They then ask for payment over the phone to "satisfy the debt and avoid arrest."
The Decatur Police Department says it will never request any type of payment by any method over the phone to include, gift cards, debit/credit cards, or cryptocurrency.
If you believe that you have been targeted or been victimized by this scam, please contact the Decatur Police Department at 256-341-4600.
Reminders to protect yourself from scams:
Social Security scams: Some fraudsters might pretend to be from the Social Security Administration and trick you into giving out your social security number, or even money. Be aware of this.- Phishing: Be highly aware of any suspicious emails or text messages and either use your email's phishing report feature, delete the message, and never click on any strange links from unknown senders. Beware of generic greetings like "Hi Dear."
- Unemployment benefit scams: Claims for unemployment benefits by imposters have been reported. Report fraud to your state's benefits agency, found here.
- Phone scams: Be aware of phone calls from unknown numbers, and from anyone asking you for personal information over the phone. Never send cash or pay for something with a gift card over the phone. Some scammers might even pretend to be law enforcement to scare you.
RELATED: How to spot a QR code scam
RELATED: Yes, scammers are impersonating Apple Support to try to steal your iCloud account information