JEFFERSON CITY (KMOX) - The Missouri Department of Public Safety is warning residents about a new "spoofing" scam that has criminals pretending to be from Missouri Capitol Police.
Officials says the scam is in attempt to obtain your personal information and dozens of people in Missouri, Texas and other states have reported being targeted. They say the scammers have been able to manipulate Caller ID so calls appeared to be coming from Missouri Capitol Police.
Missouri officials didn't say if any of the attempts to steal information were successful. Capitol Police has not received any additional reports of the fraudulent calls since 3 p.m. Thursday.
"Spoofing" phone numbers of trusted organizations or local numbers by fraudulent callers is all too common. Utilize these tips to avoid becoming a victim:
• Do not answer calls from unknown phone numbers.
• Do not hit any buttons if the caller asks you to. Hang up immediately.
• Do not answer any questions, especially ones regarding your personal information.
• Never reveal personal information, like your Social Security number, mother’s maiden name, passwords, or credit card numbers.
• Never assume the caller is the person they say they are. If you receive a call from somebody representing a company or a government agency, hang up and call back the phone number on the company or agency’s website. This will allow you to verify the caller.
If you believe you were a victim and might have shared personal information, call the Missouri Attorney General’s hotline for fraud and deception complaints at 800-392-8222. You can also call Missouri Capitol Police at (573) 522-2222.
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