U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois Warns Public About Phone Spoofing Scam

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of Illinois is alerting the public to recent reports of fraudulent phone calls in which scammers spoof official office telephone numbers in an attempt to deceive and defraud individuals.

These callers may claim to be employees of the U.S. Attorney's Office, use the names of real staff members, and pressure individuals with threats or demands for payment. The U.S. Attorney's Office does not request money, personal financial information, or sensitive identifying details over the phone.

"The U.S. Attorney's Office remains steadfast in protecting the public and ensuring individuals are not exploited through impersonation schemes. These scams succeed by casting doubt and fear into their victims, pressuring them to reveal information they would otherwise keep secure. We will not allow these tactics to undermine the trust and safety of our communities," said United States Attorney Gregory M. Gilmore. "My office will never stop working to safeguard the citizens of the Central District of Illinois."

If you receive a suspicious call:

• Document the name and details the caller provides.
• Hang up immediately and Call the U.S. Attorney's Office directly using the publicly listed numbers.
• State that you may have been a target of a spoofing scam and ask to speak with the individual by name to verify whether the call was legitimate.

Anyone who believes they have been targeted by this scam is encouraged to report the incident to the FBI at https://www.fbi.gov/tips or 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324)