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The Bogalusa Police Department recently issued a release concerning a scam that was reported in Washington Parish. The release stated:

On Jan. 21, a citizen contacted the Bogalusa Police Department in reference to a possible monetary scam attempt. An unidentified male subject, believed to be a foreigner, contacted the citizen and identified themselves as an IRS employee. The suspect informed the complainant that their Social Security number had been compromised. The suspect told the complainant that the information was uncovered during a DEA narcotics investigation. The complainant was then transferred to another individual who identified themselves as a DEA Agent. This suspect then attempted to have the complainant send a money wire transfer to have the matter resolved.

While the complainant was speaking with the officer, she received a cell phone call from 985-732-3611, which is the Bogalusa Police Department’s main phone number. The officer answered the call and identified himself as the son of the complainant. The person identified themselves as Officer James of the Bogalusa Police Department, and continued to make an attempt to have a money transfer done. When the officer identified himself as a Bogalusa Police Officer, the suspect hung up the phone.

Our citizens need to know that the Bogalusa Police Department will not call a citizen and ask for their Social Security number or request any type of monetary transactions. If any citizen receives a call from the Bogalusa Police Department’s phone number, and the caller asks for personal information or the call seems to be suspicious, tell the caller that you will call them back, and call the BPD to verify the origin of the call.

Never give your Social Security number or other personal information over the phone to an unverified caller, and never transfer money to unverified persons. The persons who commit this type of fraud often prey on elderly citizens, and are most likely out of the country and out of the reach of law enforcement.

Please make family members, especially elderly people without computer access, aware of these scams.