HOUGHTON LAKE MAN CONNED OUT OF $30,000 AFTER BELIEVING THE STATE POLICE WERE ABOUT TO ARREST HIM
ROSCOMMON COUNTY – On Wednesday, January 29, 2020 a Houghton Lake resident contacted the Michigan State Police (MSP) Houghton Lake Post after learning he had been the victim of a scam.
The victim was contacted on Saturday, January 25, 2020 by a female claiming to be with the Social Security Administration. He was informed a vehicle in Texas had been leased using his name and social security number. The victim was then connected to a man claiming to be a special agent with the DEA. The agent instructed the victim to send money to prevent him from going to jail. The victim did not believe the caller and hung up.
The victim then received a call from a person claiming to be Officer Garcia from the Houghton Lake State Police. The officer informed the victim he had a warrant for his arrest and would be arrested if he did not cooperate with the DEA agent. The victim hung up the phone and checked the caller ID. The number showing on the caller ID was the number of the MSP Houghton Lake Post. Unbeknownst to the victim, the perpetrator had spoofed the number to the post.
The victim now believed there was a warrant for his arrest. The DEA agent impersonator called back and instructed the victim to purchase $10,000 in gift cards and provide him with the gift card numbers over the phone. The victim did as he was instructed.
On Monday, the victim was instructed to mail $20,000 cash to an address in Denton, Texas using Federal Express. The victim did as he was instructed.
On Tuesday, the victim was told to mail an additional $20,000 cash to a separate address in Denton using United Parcel Service (UPS). The victim did as he was instructed.
The victim was contacted on Tuesday evening to transfer money from his IRA to the perpetrator. When the victim contacted his bank the next morning to transfer money from his IRA, the bank manager told him this was a scam and instructed the victim to contact the MSP Houghton Lake Post.
A trooper from the post contacted UPS and put a stop on the delivery of the $20,000.00 cash. The trooper asked the Denton Police Department in Texas to investigate the addresses where the cash was sent, and they are currently assisting with the investigation.
The Michigan State Police want to remind everyone neither the state police nor any other government agency will ever call or contact you and demand you send money in order to avoid arrest. It is a scam.
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