PRESS RELEASE:
The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) has issued a public alert regarding a sophisticated online scam, in which individuals impersonate police officers to defraud victims.
These impostors, often donned in police uniforms, initiate contact via video chats, falsely claiming the need to gather statements or notify individuals of pending legal charges. The victims are subsequently coerced into transferring funds as proof of innocence, after which the perpetrators run away with the money.
The CIB has clarified that authentic police procedures do not encompass soliciting statements or notifying individuals of charges through messaging apps or video calls. It added that genuine police officers do not require money transfers as proof of innocence, nor do they disseminate official legal documents such as summons or arrest warrants through digital means.
To combat this fraudulent activity, the CIB encourages the public to report any suspicious interactions to their Facebook page—ensuring complete confidentiality—or to contact the Anti-Online Scam Operation Center (AOC) via the hotline at 1441. The AOC provides assistance in reporting such crimes and facilitates freezing bank accounts associated with suspects.
