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Kenmore police urge skepticism: "Never" pay callers with gift cards or Bitcoin, chief says
Summary
Chief Brandon Moen warned listeners that scams impersonating police or relatives often demand gift cards or Bitcoin; he advised hanging up, verifying on a separate line, and reporting suspicious contacts to police.
Kenmore Police Chief Brandon Moen used a local podcast interview to warn residents about a recent wave of high-dollar frauds and to offer concrete steps to avoid becoming a victim.
Moen described common scam tactics: callers impersonate law enforcement or government agencies, threaten arrest or other penalties, or pose as a relative in urgent need of bail money. He said scammers frequently pressure victims to purchase gift cards or transfer cryptocurrency and to read card numbers aloud.
"No government agency, whether it be police, IRS, anyone is ever going to request gift cards or Bitcoin from you. Ever," Moen said. He advised listeners to hang up even if the caller implores them not to, then call police on a different line if they are unsure about the call's legitimacy.
Moen suggested simple verification questions (for example, asking a caller details about family members not publicly known) and recommended avoiding clicking links in texts or emails. He encouraged residents to call the police nonemergency number if in doubt; for urgent matters dial 911.
Moen said many scams originate overseas and can be hard to investigate; federal agencies may assist in very large-loss cases but most scams are difficult to prosecute. He urged residents to stay skeptical, preserve evidence, and contact police for help verifying suspicious requests.
