The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today issued a community advisory regarding recent, elaborate phone scams involving law enforcement impersonations.
ACTION REQUESTED: If you, or anyone you know, has been subjected to discrimination, please file a report at: https://www.cair.com/report/
CAIR has received reports of elaborate and aggressive telephone scams from people impersonating officials from local police departments. The hallmarks of those interactions include:
- Informing individuals that they are subject to immediate arrest for failing to appear for jury duty and/or insisting that an active bench warrant is out for the person’s arrest.
- Providing realistic-looking case numbers and the actual names of officers employed by the relevant police departments when verification is requested.
- Threatening immediate arrest if they seek legal counsel without informing the scammer.
- Demands that the community member meet in person for a “signature analysis” or pay a personal recognizance bond via phone using a credit card, gift card, payment app, cryptocurrency, Western Union, or MoneyGram.
SEE: Federal Trade Commission Community Alert
CAIR is concerned that given the Trump administration’s targeting of numerous minorities, some community members may be inclined to view these scam calls as real. CAIR wants communities to know when they are likely dealing with a scammer impersonating a law enforcement officer to prevent further harm. Please remember the following:
1. Courts will not request your personal information over the phone, such as your social security number or date of birth.
2. Courts and law enforcement agencies will never ask for immediate payment over the phone.
3. A legitimate law enforcement official will not threaten to arrest you if you have informed them that you have retained or will retain counsel.
4. You have a right to counsel in criminal proceedings.
5. You have the right to remain silent.
Additional guidance:
1. Consider activating spam protection on your Android and/or iPhone. Phone carriers also offer protection from scams and unwanted calls for free and as a premium service.
2. If you receive such a phone call, request critical information such as the officer’s name, badge number, case number, and jurisdiction that is calling so that you and your advocates can cross-check that information without placing you in a compromising situation. CAIR can assist you in doing so.
3. If a law enforcement officer wants to meet with you for any purpose, you should coordinate with your attorney. If you do not have an attorney, reach out to your local CAIR chapter. Do not speak to law enforcement without an attorney present.
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com