Phone scammers impersonate State Patrol, federal officials

Published 11:01 am Friday, February 14, 2014

The Washington State Patrol is warning people about a phone scam under way where callers ask for Social Security numbers when people call an Florida area code phone number (813) as part of an identity theft investigation.

The “investigation” is bogus, according to the Washington State Patrol.

WSP has received reports of people getting phone calls from callers who identify themselves as officials from the “Washington State Police” and the “U.S. Justice Office.” The callers are requesting people to “call today” to an (813) area code number in Florida to confirm their Social Security number.

Identity thieves pose as businesses, banks or government representatives in order to obtain personal information. While they may appear to be legitimate and convincing, officials are warning Washington residents to never reveal their information to anyone they do not know.

The Washington State Patrol recommends if called by someone representing themselves as a WSP employee and asking for your personal identity information, to call a local WSP office to confirm the caller is an employee with the agency and to contact the office they work in for why they need your information.

Helpful Web sites about how to protect yourself from identity theft can be found at:

Washington State Attorney General, www.atg.wa.gov

Washington State Patrol/Department of Licensing Identity Theft Unit, www.dol.wa.gov

Federal Bureau of Investigation, http://www.fbi.gov/scams-safety/fraud