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The Virgin Islands Police Department is advising the general public that there is a Social Security-related telephone scam being perpetuated on residents in the territory.
The V.I.P.D. said it has received reports of residents getting telephone calls that appear to be from the department’s main number in St. Thomas (340-774-2211), from a male with a foreign accent, claiming to be a police officer. The male is said to claim that the person’s Social Security number is compromised in a state on the mainland, along with other false accusations. The caller then demands that the person purchase gift cards (usually in the thousands of dollars) and provide the codes to the cards to avoid prosecution.
The V.I.P.D. said its employees would never do the following:
- Threaten you with arrest or other legal action unless you immediately pay a fine or fee
- Require payment by retail gift card, cash, wire transfer, internet currency, or prepaid debit card
- Send official letters or reports containing personally identifiable information via email
"If you receive a call or email that you believe to be suspicious, about a problem with your Social Security number or account, hang up or do not respond," said the police department. "We encourage the public to report Social Security phone scams to the Social Security Administration or to the VIPD."
