Scam Alert: Glen Cove Residents Asked To Send Money To Fake Fed Agents

GLEN COVE, NY — Glen Cove police are warning residents about a phone scam in which callers pretend to be from the U.S. State Department and demand money.

In incidents reported over the July 4th weekend, scammers told victims they’d be arrested if they didn’t pay the requested amount. The scammers would then threaten to get Glen Cove Police Chief William Whitton on the phone, according to officials.

“The scammer then impersonates Chief Whitton, who verifies that they are speaking to actual agents of the State Department and for them to cooperate fully with their investigation, including paying them or disclosing bank account information,” officials said in a statement.

Glen Cove Police Det. Lt. John Nagle says those who receive this type of phone call should immediately hang up and contact the city’s police department.

“The tell-tale sign of an attempted scam is the desire to obtain your bank account information or demand of payment using a pre-paid credit card or gift card,” Nagle said. “Last year, a very similar scam resulted in a Glen Cove resident losing a significant amount of money because he believed he was speaking to actual State Department agents as well as Chief Whitton.”