Tallahassee, Fla., (WTXL)- "If you can think of a way that someone can scam you out of your money, they're going to try it." Tallahassee Police Department spokesperson, Officer Dave Northway says as he began to count the number of phone scams his department is investigating.
Right now, there are active reports of criminals posing as utility workers, members of the mafia, and estranged loved ones reaching out to citizens by phone in and around the Big Bend. Police say, the demands for money are best ignored.
"What we're urging our citizens to do, is if they get a call that people are asking for money over the phone....the simplest way is to hang up." Northway explains, "The best way is to get as much information as you can and contact our financial crimes unit..so that we can try and stop these scams from occurring in our city."
Talquin Electric and the City of Tallahassee have both reported callers claiming to be employees from their billing departments. The scammers demand money, or claim water and power services will be shut off immediately.
According to Talquin Electric the scammers have been "spoofing" or hacking Caller ID systems to make the incoming call look as if it's coming from the power company.
Perhaps the most alarming scam police are investigating in the Capital City, involves a scammer claiming to belong to the Mexican Mafia. An actor in the background is usually screaming during these calls, as the caller claims to be torturing a loved one and holding them for ransom.
If you know anything about any of these scams, or believe you have fallen victim to fraud you're asked to call the Tallahassee Police Department right away at (850)891-4200.
