Don't Fall For This Scam, Mooresville Police Department Warns

MOORESVILLE, NC — Mooresville police issued a warning Wednesday that scammers are calling area residents and threatening arrest for none payment of bogus court fees.

While it's not a novel scam, the scammers are giving it a personal touch. They're using the names of real Mooresville police officers when trying to shake down unsuspecting victims on fake charges.

"Scammers are falsely claiming there is a warrant for not showing up for court and they are using the names of actual Mooresville Police officers," Mooresville Police Department said.
"These scammers often demand payment of a fine or fee by phone in the form of a gift card in order to avoid arrest."

MPD said anyone who receives such a call should just hang up.

"Do not provide money, gift cards or personal information," MPD said. "The Mooresville Police Department will never ask for money or pre-paid money cards to settle a warrant or missing a court date."

The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) said the number of complaints about scams rose 70 percent between 2019 and 2020. The top three scams, according to the agency, were phishing scams, non-payment/non-delivery scams and extortion.

"Notably, 2020 saw the emergence of scams exploiting the COVID-19 pandemic," IC3 said. "The increase in crimes reported in 2020 may have also been due in part to the pandemic driving more commerce and activities online. The latest numbers indicate 2021 may be another record year."

MPD said anyone who receives a scam call should report it to the FBI, Internet Crime Complaint Center IC3, www.ic3.gov or to the Mooresville Police Department at 704-664-3311.

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