The FBI Houston Field Office is joining offices across the country in warning the public about individuals posing as federal law enforcement officers in an effort to defraud victims of money and personally identifiable information.
The FBI Chicago Field Office has released photographs of two individuals suspected of carrying out this scheme by impersonating FBI agents and is asking for the public’s help in identifying them.
According to the FBI, fraudsters posing as law enforcement officers often contact unsuspecting individuals by text message, phone, or email, claiming the person is either a suspect or a victim in an ongoing investigation.
In some cases, scammers create elaborate scenarios, including posing as bank employees who claim to be working with legitimate FBI agents, in order to gain access to victims’ personal and financial information. Many of these offenders operate from outside the United States.
The FBI is urging the public to be cautious when communicating with anyone claiming to be a federal agent. Federal authorities will never ask for payment or personally identifiable information when contacting individuals about a case by phone, email, or text.
Anyone who receives a call, message, or email from someone claiming to be a federal law enforcement officer should not provide money or information of any kind, including cash, credit cards, prepaid cards, or cryptocurrency.
Officials also offered the following tips to help avoid becoming a victim:
• Be suspicious of any unsolicited calls, texts, or emails.
• Trust your instincts. If something doesn’t sound right or you feel pressured to act quickly, end the communication and keep a record of the interaction.
• Verify claims independently by contacting the appropriate agency, bank, or company using publicly listed contact information—not information provided by the caller.
• Never send money or share personal information with someone you did not contact directly or cannot verify.
Anyone who believes they have been targeted or victimized is encouraged to file a report with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov, call 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), or submit tips online at tips.fbi.gov.