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FBI Warns Of Ongoing Local Phone Scam

by John McDevitt

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Federal Bureau of Investigation is warning the public about a scam in the region, where the caller poses as a member of the FBI demanding payment for something they say you owe.

Actual phone numbers of FBI offices appear in the recipient's caller ID and the caller claims to be an FBI agent saying you owe money for things like school loans, back taxes, or unpaid parking tickets, and if you don't pay up, they say you're going to jail or will be deported.

"If you fall victim to this, what you should do is quickly hang up and note the time and calling number, which will obviously be the FBI number, but that's ok, and visit FBI's Internet crime complaint center. That's at https://www.ic3.gov," said Pat Armor, an FBI special agent with cyber division in Philadelphia.

Special Agent Armor says the FBI doesn't call or email people to demand money or threaten arrest.

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