Prank Caller Impersonating Police Chief Demands Money, Threatens Arrest

In one case, the police chief impersonator threatened to arrest a man unless he paid a $700,000 fine.

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By KTVA CBS 11

Story Created: Sep 18, 2011 at 7:53 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Sep 18, 2011 at 7:53 PM AKDT

Anchorage police say someone has been impersonating APD Chief Mark Mew and prank calling people.

In one case, the police chief impersonator threatened to arrest a man unless he paid a $700,000 fine.

As it turns out, this is just the latest scam trend—it's called “spoofing.”

Spoofing allows scammers to use someone else's phone number for caller ID purposes, and then the scammer tries to get money from the person on the other end of the line.

The problem, however, is the scammers have the victim's personal information including birth date and social security number.

It's a national scamming trend that's hit Alaska and Anchorage police are urging residents not to fall for it.

“We do not collect civil debts. We don’t arrest people for not paying civil debts. If there’s fraud involved then that would be a crime, but this seems to be a new wave of scams that is kind of hitting the United States,” said Anchorage Police Department spokesman Lt. Dave Parker.

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ITS PROBABLY SOME OF THE ILLEGAL ALIENS said on Tuesday, Sep 20 at 7:47 AM

from Mexico, Africa,etc. They have scams you wouldn't think of. Years back working for a credit Union, we had numerous bad loans with false I.D. & information that the scammers were getting signature loans with. They faked the fact they were either exchange students (from Africa) or just college students. The money was sent back to Africa for weapons. Anyone falling for this crap is just plain "STUPID", any suspecious calls? Call the B.B.B. Police,D.A., or any office it can be reported to. MAybe get calls traced.

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