Overview
- Police report multiple recent incidents in Long Beach and other Southern California communities involving callers impersonating local and federal agents.
- Scammers reference questionable purchases, then transfer victims to someone claiming to be a U.S. Marshal or ATF agent who says the target is under investigation.
- Victims are pressured to withdraw cash, buy gift cards, or wire money, despite legitimate agencies never requesting payment by phone.
- Caller ID spoofing makes the calls appear to come from official numbers, and officials say losses have reached tens of thousands of dollars.
- LBPD advises residents to hang up, avoid sharing personal information, verify using the department’s website, and file reports with the FTC and the FBI’s IC3; no arrests were reported.