Press release from Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office:
The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office has been alerted that a scam is circulating throughout Buncombe County that involves the Social Security Administration and a person posing as an Asheville Police Department officer. This scam appears to be targeting the immigrant community.
Scammers contact the intended victim and advise them that they are being pursued by law enforcement in connection with a criminal use of their social security number. The caller connects the victim with the person posing as a police officer and the police officer directs the victim to cooperate with the social security agent.
The social security agent tells the victim that their social security number and identity have been used in a drug crime which has resulted in criminal charges in another state. The agent tells the victim that they are having their number revoked and they will no longer be a U.S. citizen. The agent connects the victim to the person posing a police officer and the police directs them to cooperate with the agent and to not discuss the case with anyone. The agent then directs the victim to remove all of their available funds from the bank and place them in a government machine that they provide the address and directions to. The victim then purchases gift cards and relays the bar code number to the agent. The agent tells the victim that the funds will be transferred back after a period of time so they funds cannot be seized as part of the criminal matter.
The Social Security Administration does not call citizens concerning criminal cases with local or other law enforcement. The Social Security Administration does not accept any payment by any type of gift cards for release of criminal process on behalf of any law enforcement agency.
If you receive such a call by a person representing themselves as an agent, employee, officer, deputy or other official asking for funds to be transferred by gift card payment, do not provide any personal information, account information, or other information that may lead to a compromise of your finances or identity. Hang up and do not cooperate with these persons as they are attempting to scam you in some instances for thousands of dollars on the pretense that you will be arrested if you do not comply.
If you have questions about the validity of a contact from someone posing as a government employee, contact the agency they claim to represent or call the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office at 828-255-5555.
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