Nationwide scam now occurring in New York

WASHINGTON (WHEC) — According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), a nationwide scam is now occurring in New York State.

Individuals nationwide have been receiving unsolicited calls from scammers posing as U.S. Border Patrol agents, CBP employees, Public Affairs Officers, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers.

Residents of New York have been reporting calls with a pre-recorded message, which says "a box of drugs and money being shipped has your name on it and has been intercepted.”

Others have reported receiving calls from individuals claiming to be CBP employees informing them that there is a warrant for their arrest or requesting information in exchange for Bitcoin.

In either case, the resident is instructed to provide banking information or other personal identifiable information, such as Social Security numbers or dates of birth.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection are warning residents that these calls are phone scams or phishing attempts, and have been around for the last few years.

Residents are urged to not provide the caller with any information.

The Department of Homeland Security and CBP does not solicit money over the phone, nor does it use Bitcoin, gift cards, or other digital currency.

If such calls are received, people should make a note of the number and any other pertinent details about the call and immediately hang up. After hanging up, they are asking residents to report the incident to their local police department and the Federal Trade Commission.

If you would still like to talk to someone from CBP, please contact the CBP Information Center at 877-227-5511.