I wanted to post this because it had to deal with manipulation of caller IDs.
News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 12/14/2007
Contact: Detective Lt. Chris Mealy, 360-786-5508
Chief Criminal Deputy Jim Chamberlain, 360-786-5659
Fake Detective calling citizens to get personal information
OLYMPIA - The Sheriff's Office has received two reports from citizens this week stating that an unknown male suspect called posing as a Thurston County Sheriff's Detective and asked for personal information. The suspect claims he arrested a person with the victim's information on a ledger or that he was investigating a mail theft where the citizen's mail was recovered He asked the citizens to provide their name, date of birth, social security number, driver's license number, mother's maiden name and credit card number. The suspect used a fake badge number of 4734.
During one contact, the caller ID showed the call to be coming from one of the Sheriff's Office phone numbers. Keep in mind that caller ID can be tricked to show any number the suspect wants it to show by a skilled criminal.
Citizens should not give out personal information over the phone until they verify they are talking to an actual Sheriff's Office investigator. Citizens should ask the caller to tell them what information he has and then get a call back number. Suspects will normally be unwilling to do this or give the wrong information. Do not correct them. Tell the caller you will have to check and call him back. Verify the identity of the caller by calling the main number for the Sheriff's office, 786-5500, or the Detective Division at 786-5531 during business hours and verify the name is an actual Detective with the Sheriff's Office. If the citizen discovers an attempted scam they should request a Deputy contact them to take a report. Do not rely on any number given by the caller or your caller I.D.
Identity Thieves are extremely creative and manipulative in trying to get personal information. This is just the latest scam that has come to our attention. Genuine law enforcement officers will cooperate with citizens to make sure that the citizen knows they are dealing with a real detective. Citizens should always be suspicious of any request for their personal information especially over the phone or the internet.
Anyone with information on who this suspect might be is urged to call the Thurston County Sheriff's Office at 360-786-5500 or Crimestoppers at 360-493-2222.
Chief Criminal Deputy Jim Chamberlain
source:
http://www.co.thurston.wa.us/sheriff/hp-docs/press-releases/Press-Release-20071214.pdf
