Telephone Scammers Pose As Social Workers To Extort Money

WASHINGTON, DC — The Metropolitan Police Department is warning the public to beware of a telephone scam in which callers pose as social workers, according to a police release. The callers claim the recipient can avoid legal action from MPD in exchange for money.

Multiple District residents have contacted MPD about the calls they received in which the callers attempted to extort money by claiming an active arrest warrant had been issued against them. The caller then offers to absolve the individuals of the issue if they make monetary payments.

MPD says the calls are not valid and the callers are not social workers, according to the release.

If District residents receive unsolicited calls such as these, MPD says they should take the following steps:

• Don’t give in to pressure to take immediate action.
• Don’t engage in any conversation, as scammers may record your response.
• Don’t provide your credit card number, bank account information, or other personal information to a caller.
• Don’t send money if a caller tells you to wire money or pay with a prepaid debit card.
• Don’t travel to any location the caller asked you to go to.

MPD encourages victims of this scam to call their local police department and report this crime by contacting the Financial and Cyber Crimes Unit at 202-727-4159 or mpd.fraud-unit@dc.gov