The KPD has received numerous recent reports of scam callers who are using the names of Knoxville police officers in an attempt to coerce victims into giving money.

Law enforcement scams are common and come in many variations. Callers will often identify themselves as law enforcement officers or use the names of actual officers to make the call seem authentic. Callers also often use spoofed phone numbers to both disguise their real number and make it appear as if they are actually calling from a local law enforcement agency.

Scammers traditionally attempt to threaten or intimidate victims by demanding money for bond or in lieu of an arrest, with the goal of scaring victims into paying.

In order to avoid identification, scammers also routinely request for monetary payments via unusual methods, such a payment app, pre-paid debit cards, cryptocurrency, or gift cards. In at least one recent case reported to the KPD, the scammer requested that the money be converted into cryptocurrency.

As a reminder, a law enforcement agency will never call to request money or ask for financial information.

Some additional reminders to avoid falling victim to a scam:

• If you do not recognize a phone number, do not answer the call.
• Never divulge personal or financial information to unknown or unverified sources.
• Do not feel the need to act immediately. Take your time and do not get pressured into making a decision.
• If something feels suspicious or too good to be true, hang up and authenticate the call by calling the agency or organization in question.
• If you receive a scam call or fall victim to a scam, report it to your local law enforcement agency and the FTC. Scams can be reported to the KPD by phone at 865-215-7268.