Spam callers spoof local numbers

MANAWA - The Manawa Police Department is warning residents about a phone scam in which callers impersonate law enforcement officers in an attempt to obtain money.

Police said an area resident recently reported receiving a call from someone claiming to be a federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent. The call was followed by another from an individual identifying themselves as a sergeant with the Manawa Police Department.

The callers allegedly instructed the resident to withdraw money from their bank account and transfer it into a so-called “federal secure account” until a fabricated issue was resolved. According to the DEA, such scams often include threats of arrest to pressure victims into complying.

Police Chief Jason Severson said the scammers spoofed the Manawa Police Phone number. Spoofing is when a caller deliberately falsifies the information transmitted to caller ID display to disguise their identity, according to the Federal Communications Commission.

Although no money was lost in this particular incident and there is no ongoing investigation tied to a financial victim, Severson said that such calls are part of a constant rotation of fraud tactics.

Severson said that cryptocurrency payments are especially risky because once funds are sent, they are historically difficult or impossible to recover. A new state law sets a daily cryptocurrency kiosk transaction limit at $1,000 per day in an effort to limit the amount of money residents lose to this scam.

Investigating and prosecuting these scams is difficult.

“If they do spoof things, then you have no idea where it’s coming from; it’s not from the area,” Severson said. “It’s hard for local and state to do anything about people that are in other countries or undetermined locations.”

He said urgency is a major red flag. Scammers often claim there is an emergency such as a relative in jail, an accident, or an imminent threat of police action, and insist that the victim act immediately.

“They want you to make a quick decision,” Severson said. “They want you to do it real fast without actually logically thinking it through and just on emotion.”

For anyone who receives a suspicious call, text, or email, Severson said to hang up immediately if something feels off. He said not to engage further and not to send money, gift cards, or cryptocurrency. He also suggested blocking the number and reporting the call or text as spam on your phone.

Residents who believe they are being targeted by a scam should contact the Manawa Police Department and their bank or financial institution as soon as possible, he said.