Fall River Police warning residents of scams reported by community members

Fall River Police would like to warn residents of multiple telephone scams that have been reported by members of the community. 

Arrest Warrant Scam 

On May 6, 2024, a 59-year-old resident reported that they received a telephone call from an unknown telephone number. The caller identified themself as a Border Patrol Agent and indicated that there was an outstanding arrest warrant for the victim. She was instructed to withdraw $7000 from her account and deposit it into a Bitcoin ATM. 

Residents are reminded that law enforcement agencies do not contact individuals via telephone to negotiate payment for an arrest warrant. An arrest warrant requires arrest/or surrender for resolution. Should you have any question regarding the existence of a warrant for your arrest you can contact your local courthouse or police department. 

Computer Virus Scam 

On May 9, 2024, a 74-year-old resident reported that they called an “800” number after receiving a message on their computer that it was infected with a virus. She then received a phone call from an “800” number. That caller advised her that money had been withdrawn from the victim’s savings account and instructed them to withdraw $50,000 and deposit it at a Bitcoin ATM. The unsuspecting individual attempted to comply with the request until the clerk at the Farm Market questioned her actions and contacted the police. 

Residents are advised to contact their local financial institutions directly, if they have any concerns about the potential for fraudulent activity. Under no circumstances should you make deposits via a Bitcoin ATM for the purposes of safeguarding funds already on deposit at a financial institution. While these recent examples direct a victim to a Bitcoin ATM, previous scams have also directed victims to local stores to purchase gift cards.