FBI, BCA Warn Minnesotans Of Sophisticated Caller ID Scam

MINNESOTA — The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension are warning Minnesotans of a relatively new and sophisticated caller ID scam.

Scammers use phone number spoofing technology to make calls while pretending to be law enforcement agents.

The scammers make their caller ID match the official phone numbers of the FBI and BCA. When an unsuspecting target picks up the phone, the scammer claims they are conducting an investigation and demand sensitive information including Social Security numbers, bank numbers, and residential addresses.

Real agents investigating legitimate cases may contact residents, so to determine whether the caller is legitimate, Minnesotans are asked for a callback number and then reach out to the agency’s official general information line:

• The true FBI number is 763-569-8000
• The true BCA number is 651-793-7000

"A legitimate BCA agent will encourage you to call the main phone number and confirm their identity," BCA Superintendent Drew Evans said in a statement.

"If the person who called doesn’t want you to do that, hang up the phone. It’s a scammer."

People who have fallen victim to this scam can seek help with the official Internet Crime Complaint Center.