Gaston County police warn parents, teens after scammers impersonate officers demanding cash
Scammers call pretending to be police officers and demand money to release a family member. They ask for payment through Cash App or Venmo.
How it works
The scammer calls a teen or young adult claiming to be law enforcement. They say a parent or relative has been arrested and will be released only if money is sent immediately. They demand the payment be made through Cash App, Venmo, or another digital payment app to avoid a paper trail.
Red flags to watch for
- Caller claims to be police but calls your personal phone number
- They demand immediate payment via Cash App, Venmo, or wire transfer
- They create urgency by saying a family member is in custody
- Real police never demand payment by app or phone
- Caller refuses to let you hang up and verify independently
What to do
Do not send money. Hang up immediately and call your family member directly to confirm they are safe, or contact the police department using the main number on its website. Real law enforcement agencies do not demand payment by phone or accept digital payment apps. If you receive this call, report it to local police and to reportfraud.ftc.gov.
If this reached you
Source: WBTV Charlotte . Scam Sentinel summarizes this news report in plain language; it is a decision aid, not a guarantee.