CBP Warning: Don't Fall For Phone Scams Impersonating Border Agents
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) leaders are now warning Americans to be on high alert for phone scams that continue to target people around the country, pretending to be from the agency and attempting to steal money or social security numbers.
According to a statement from CBP officials in Houston, the scam often involves fake calls from people claiming to be CBP agents or Border Patrol officers, asking for Social Security numbers, banking details, or payments to 'resolve' scam investigations.
Sometimes, the calls have even referenced fake shipments of drugs or cash allegedly tied to the recipient's name or address, hoping to scare the recipient into offering up money or other valuable personal information in order to fix the potential legal threat.
'Anyone receiving a call from U.S. Customs and Border Protection about self-deportation, or a shipment of drugs or money should recognize that it is a scam regardless of how authentic the caller may sound,' said Rod Hudson, CBP's Acting Director of Field Operations in Houston.
Hudson also warned the public that CBP will never call to demand money or threaten citizens with police action if they don't comply.
'If CBP suspects illegal activity, we will not call a suspect or a victim requesting money or Social Security numbers. To be clear, CBP will not make telephone calls threatening citizens that law enforcement is on the way or promising money for information,' Hudson added.
Scammers often try to sound convincing, sometimes using the real names of CBP employees – easily found online -and giving out fake case numbers or badge numbers to boost their 'credibility.' Other scammers use robocalls instructing recipients to press a number to 'speak with an officer,' only to demand banking information or payments.
The CBP is now urging the public to remain vigilant regardless of how 'real' a scammer may sound.
If you receive a call like this, the CBP recommends the following steps: 1. Hang up immediately. 2. Never share your Social Security number, credit card details, or banking information over the phone. 3. Don't trust caller ID or numbers left in voicemails – scammers can fake them. 4. Always verify any suspicious calls by visiting CBP's official website or calling a publicly listed phone number.
CBP officials also detailed in their recent statement that the agency does not solicit money over the phone and would never ask for payment from the public through gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers of any kind.
Texans who suspect they've received a scam call can report it to the Federal Trade Commission's official online form.
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