INFORMATION RELEASE

In the past three weeks, the Juneau Police Department has received reports of at least five separate attempts of telephone fraud and harassment. One report was related to a utility company, one was posing as a court employee and multiple calls were attempts to impersonate a JPD employee.

Today a female called a Juneau woman?s place of work and told her that she had missed jury duty and had a warrant out for her arrest. The female provided instructions to the woman to go to JPD to ?turn herself in.? The female asked for the woman?s cell phone number so they could stay on the phone as she drove to the police department. The main JPD phone number appeared as the incoming caller ID. The caller likely ?spoofed? the JPD phone number to trick the woman into believing that they were a JPD employee. As the woman was driving, both a male and female suspect spoke with her and provided instructions.

During this conversation, the woman provided some personal information to the suspects. This information was later used in a phone call by the suspects to the woman?s family. The situation was very realistic as the suspects again ?spoofed? their outgoing phone number but this time, posed as the woman?s cell phone. The male suspect told the family that they had kidnapped their daughter, were holding her for ransom and went into detail about ways they would harm her if they did not meet the monetary demand.

Although today?s extortion attempt was a very scary situation for the woman and her family, no funds changed hands and everyone is safe.

JPD encourages everyone to protect their personal information carefully and if any doubt, hang up and call the company or agency directly at a published telephone number.

Common scams and fraud schemes along with tips to avoid becoming a victim of fraud may be found on the FBI?s website: https://www.fbi.gov/scams-and-safety/common-fraud-schemes. The FBI also takes telephonic and online reports of financial fraud.

Online reports of suspects pretending to be government employees, family members, friends, and several other imposter situations may be submitted to the Federal Trade Commission at: https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/

Financial Fraud may be reported online at: stopfraud.gov