The Atmore Police Department is warning citizens about scammers attempting to blackmail the elderly using false claims.
The blackmailers contact potential victims and tell them they are agents of the U.S. Treasury/Federal Communications Commission (FCC). They say to the person they have proof they have downloaded child pornography. They tell them they will be penalized if they don't place a large sum of money into a box and seal it with duct tape to give to them.
"The grifter then asks for the victim's home address and advises the victim that an FCC agent will be coming to pick up the duct-taped box full of cash," Atmore Police explained. "The hustler then contacts the victim and changes the location to a public place and ultimately becomes a drop off location."
Police said that so far, no one they know of has become a victim of the scam because they had contacted law enforcement before leaving the cash at the drop-off location.
Call your local law enforcement agency if you or someone you know has been a scam victim. You can also report it immediately to the FTC.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
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