The Princeton Police Department is warning the public about a sophisticated scam being reported in the community, where individuals are pretending to be law enforcement and taking money from victims.
According to a news release, the process begins with the scammer contacting the victim while acting as law enforcement, where they then provide what appears to be legitimate details on a case involving counterfeit money being passed at a local business. These details are false.
The caller then gets the victim, often times employees of the business, to take cash from the business to a Dollar General for ‘verification’. They are sent a barcode to the phones and told to have it scanned at the register, where they then hand cash to the cashier. What actually happens, is the process transfers that money directly into the scammer’s account, and the money is often not recoverable. These individuals may possess information that makes them seem credible; such as, employee’s names, business owner’s names, or other details about the business. This information is used to convince the employee’s that the call is legitimate.
The Princeton Police Department says they will never conduct investigations in this manner, and would have instruct businesses or individuals to transfer money, scan barcodes or purchase gift cards as part of an investigation.
Anyone who receives such a call should immediately hang up and contact the Princeton Police Department at (270) 365-2041.