Alert - Recent Reports of Fraudulent Phone Calls

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December 15, 2008 - The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) is reminding the public to be alert to ongoing financial scams that attempt to solicit funds from unsuspecting victims.

FinCEN has been receiving recent calls and reports of financial scam attempts conducted via telephone. In this scam the caller represents himself/herself as an employee of FinCEN and asks for the victim by name, usually at the victim's home telephone number. The caller will identify an outstanding debt; this debt may be actual or bogus. The caller will provide the victim with the victim's account, social security or other similar number and demand that immediate payment must be made. The caller's knowledge of the victim's name, telephone number, account description and personal information serve to legitimize the caller.

Recipients of these calls, letters or emails should not respond to such messages, and should not send money or provide any personal or confidential information. Those who believe that they are or have been a victim of a financial scam, should report this information to local, state, or federal law enforcement authorities.

FinCEN does not send unsolicited requests and does not seek personal or financial information from members of the public. FinCEN does not have authority to freeze assets or block funds transfers. In addition, fraudulent correspondence may purport to be from an overseas office of FinCEN. FinCEN does not have any offices outside of the United States.

For additional information on money laundering scams, please see the following: