The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois is warning the public about fraudulent phone calls in which scammers make it appear they are calling from official government telephone numbers.
Officials say scammers may claim to work for the U.S. Attorney’s Office and could even use the names of actual employees. Callers may attempt to pressure victims through threats or demands for payment.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office says it will never request money, personal financial information or sensitive identifying information over the phone.
Anyone receiving a suspicious call should document the name and information provided by the caller and then hang up. Individuals can then contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office directly using its publicly listed telephone number to determine whether the call was legitimate.
Those who believe they have been targeted are also encouraged to report the incident to the FBI.
FBI Tips and Public Leads
Reports can also be made by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324).