Government Impersonators Targeting North Florida Residents

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

Scammers Claim to be Representatives of the FBI in Need of Personal Information

JACKSONVILLE, FL—The FBI Jacksonville Division has received notice that scammers are posing as representatives of the FBI to target residents in North Florida and steal their personal information. Multiple versions of the government impersonation scam have been reported in recent days, all of which exploit intimidation tactics.

In one version, a victim reported first receiving a call from an individual who claimed to represent a sweepstakes company and offered a sizeable prize. When the victim declined to provide personal information to acquire the so-called prize, the call ended. Later, the victim received a second call from an individual who claimed to be a representative of the FBI who was investigating the sweepstakes company. The victim was asked to provide personal information to help further the so-called investigation. When the victim declined, the caller became aggressive in his demands.

In the second version, a victim reported receiving a call from an individual who claimed to be a representative of the FBI who was investigating a confiscated shipment of illegal materials addressed to the victim’s residence. The caller claimed to have an immediate need for personal information about the victim—to include financial account numbers—in order to eliminate the victim as a suspect in the alleged crime. When the victim declined to provide the information, the caller threatened fines and jail time.

Be advised, the FBI does not call or email threats nor demand money as part of any investigation. If you are contacted by a representative of the FBI as part of an investigation, you may verify their identity by contacting your local field office (FBI Jacksonville, 904-248-7000).

All types of scams and fraud should be reported to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at www.IC3.gov. Filing a complaint with IC3 allows the FBI to identify patterns which aid in federal investigations as well as public awareness and crime-prevention education efforts. If you are a victim and suffered a financial loss or identity theft, also consider filing a report with your law enforcement and the Federal Trade Commission at https://www.identitytheft.gov/.

FBI New Haven and Yale University Police Department Announce the 2021 Introduction to the Future Law Enforcement Youth Academy

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

FLEYA

The FLEYA training program will be offered on three separate days consisting of 20 students per class. Students selected will attend one of the three classes. Eligible students must be Connecticut residents between 15 to 18 years of age and submit an application online. There will be a total of 60 students selected by the FBI, which will make up the 20 students per class. Students will be selected based upon a panel review of their application and the total overall reflection of our Connecticut communities.

This joint effort to promote future law enforcement career paths for Connecticut youth gives the selected youth an inside look at today’s FBI while simultaneously being exposed to various local and federal law enforcement agencies. Yale’s campus will serve as the home base in an academic environment that encourage students to pursue higher education and careers in law enforcement.

The students will receive specific classroom training and practical exercises taught by special agents, police, and prosecutors. Topics will include: investigative forensics, use of cyber technology techniques for combating violent crime, domestic and international terrorism, civil rights (hate crimes), and more. This unique training will also act as an information session for students seeking admittance into the full week-long FLEYA camp offered in 2022. Information on the FBI Honors Internship Program and future employment opportunities will also be provided.

FLEYA Requirements

Students applying for the FLEYA program must meet the following criteria:

  • Student is a United States citizen residing in the state of Connecticut.
  • At time of application, the student is enrolled in an accredited high school. If home schooled, the student is recognized by their school district.
  • Student is between the ages of 15 and 18 at start of program.
  • Student must have a minimum GPA of 2.8
  • Student must fully complete entire application. Application must be clear and fully legible.
  • Only accepted student can attend assigned one day class date.
  • Submit completed application in PDF form to FLEYAProgram@fbi.gov (Note: No Google Docs or applications requiring a password will be accepted.)

Program dates:

  • Monday, July 26, 2021 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Wednesday, July 28, 2021 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Friday, July 30, 2021 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The FLEYA program is free of charge to accepted students.

The application process starts February 1, 2021, through the deadline date April 23, 2021, at 5 p.m. EST. A total of 60 students (30 males/30 females) will be selected from urban and suburban area high schools in Connecticut to ensure a diverse gender, racial, and cultural learning environment. All students will be notified via email if they are moving on in the final selection process by Friday, April 30, 2021. The instructions for applications are on the website and must be strictly adhered to with no exceptions.

Program inquiries may be sent to FLEYAProgram@fbi.gov.

The FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force and Denver Police Department Need Your Help Identifying a Bank Robber

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

The FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force and Denver Police Department need your help identifying an individual who robbed the U.S. Bank inside King Soopers at 2810 Quebec Street, Denver, Colorado, at 1:53 p.m. on Friday, January 29, 2021. The same individual is believed to have been acting suspiciously inside a TCF Bank located at 2084 South Broadway, Denver, Colorado, on this same date at 12:52 p.m..

The suspect is described as a Caucasian male, approximately 5’11” and 200 lbs. He was seen wearing a black baseball cap with a sportswear logo, a black neck gator as a face mask, blue and black shirt, gray athletic shorts, and black and white shoes.

Please be on the lookout for anyone matching the suspect’s description. Be aware of anyone similar who might have recently changed their spending habits or discussed coming into money suddenly.

Bank robbery is punishable up to a 20-year prison sentence for each offense and increases if a dangerous weapon is used in the commission of the crime. The FBI continues to provide financial institutions with the best practices for security to make them less vulnerable to robberies.

If anyone has any information on the bank robberies above, or any bank robbery, please call the FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force at 303-629-7171; or, you can remain anonymous and earn up to two thousand dollars ($2,000) by calling CRIMESTOPPERS at 720-913-STOP (7867).

Defense News in Brief: Chief Heritage Training Fights Through COVID-19 Aboard Battleship New Jersey

Source: United States Navy

For more than a decade, Navy chief petty officers and chief selects from around the globe have traveled to the Battleship New Jersey, affectionately known as “Big J”, to participate in its annual Chief Petty Officer (CPO) Heritage Academy. This year, however, brought a unique challenge — one Navy chiefs were determined to overcome.  

Albuquerque FBI Division Warns of Scammers Spoofing Phone Number

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

The Albuquerque FBI Division has seen a recent increase in phone calls that spoof its office phone number as part of a scam to demand money from victims.

The callers will “spoof,” or fake, the FBI’s main phone number, so the calls appear to be coming from the FBI on the recipient’s caller ID.

The fraudulent callers will use this fake information to try to get money from victims, usually by telling them to purchase gift cards.

While the FBI does not want the public to ignore calls that appear to come from law enforcement, be aware that neither the FBI nor any other legitimate law enforcement officer will ever demand cash or gift cards from you.

Other tips:

Do not send money or gift cards to anybody that you do not personally know and trust.

Never give out your personal information, including banking information, Social Security number, or other personally identifiable information, over the phone or to individuals you do not know.

Anyone who feels they were the victim of this or any other online scam should report the incident immediately using the IC3 website at www.ic3.gov.

More information about government impersonation schemes and other online fraud schemes can be found at https://www.fbi.gov/scams-and-safety/common-fraud-schemes