POST FALLS, Idaho — A scam that has callers impersonating law officers and threatening arrests unless money is paid continues to make the rounds in Kootenai County.
Most recently, Post Falls police said a caller poses as an officer speaking to an individual about outstanding warrants and tries to obtain money to offset the debt. The number they are calling from indicates it is from the police.
People receiving this call have reported that the callers request payment in gift cards or cryptocurrency to take care of the warrant.
Capt. Mark Brantl of Post Falls Police said that the scam has come up before in the last couple of years and that previous scams have “spoofed” or faked the department's phone number.
The Kootenai County Sheriff's Office and the Shoshone County Sheriff's Office also recently reported that locals have been targeted by the same scam.
KCSO Lt. Jeff Howard said they receive daily reports about scams.
He said in the past, a scammer would call from an unknown number pretending to be with a company. They would demand money to pay off a debt or there would be consequences such as foreclosures or shutting down utilities.
Another scam would offer the victim money via the Publisher’s Clearing House, but fees associated with getting the money would have to be paid up front. In most scenarios, the scammer would direct the victim to purchase gift cards and then transfer the money, Howard said.
The current trend, which started more than a month ago, "is quite more sophisticated," Howard said.
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