New Braunfels police warn of scammers posing as FBI agents

New Braunfels police are investigating two recent fraud cases in which people believed their computers were hacked, then were told their banking information had been used for illegal purchases.

They were given a phone number to call to address the issue, then were connected to someone claiming to be from the FBI, police said.

“That person then convinces the victim to ‘prove’ that they didn’t make the illegal transactions by purchasing thousands of dollars worth of gift cards from retail stores,” New Braunfels Police Department said. The people were then instructed to hand over that gift card information to avoid arrest or legal action.

Anyone who receives similar phone calls should not provide any personal information or make any purchases, and should hang up immediately and call the department’s nonemergency line, 830-221-4100, to report the call.

“Scammers often target the elderly, but not exclusively,” NBPD said. No legitimate law enforcement agency will demand immediate payment to avoid arrest, ask you to purchase anything, especially gift cards or prepaid credit cards, or attempt to detain you over the phone, police said.

Scam artists are “constantly thinking up new ways to separate you from your hard-earned money,” New Braunfels police said, including posing as IRS agents, Publisher’s Clearinghouse employees, student loan agents or credit card debt agents.

The department advised being very careful about giving personal information over the phone, especially if the call was unsolicited or if you did not initiate the phone call. To avoid other types of scams, “be wary about letting anyone into your home or onto your property without proper identification, marked vehicles, etc.,” NBPD said.