(Memphis) We have a warning about a scam disguised as a call from the Drug Enforcement Administration.
If you get a call from someone claiming to be a DEA agent who ends up asking you for money, just hang up.
It happened to a woman in Cordova who did the right thing.
Cassie Howard says when her phone rang Monday morning, her caller ID said it was the U.S. Government, so she picked it up.
But she says what the guy had to say on the other line didn’t make any sense at all.
“I never thought I would get a call like this,” said Howard.
Cassie says she was half asleep when she got the call but it woke her up real quick.
“Once I was wide awake, I was like ‘Wait a minute, buster! You have the wrong sister here!’”
She says a man called her saying he was with the DEA and that Cassie had been breaking the law for years.
“They told me they had been watching me and they had confiscated a package that had prescriptions drugs that had been coming to my home since 2008. This home wasn’t even built in 2008.”
Cassie says she has high blood pressure so she picks up meds at the grocery store, but has never gotten them in the mail and she certainly has never done business with anyone oversees, “From the Dominican Republic.”
She knew the call wasn’t legit so when the man said he was sending DEA agents to her house she said ‘Go on ahead,’ and hung up.
The scammer never had a chance to ask for money, which is what the DEA is warning would have happened.
The agency is letting people know it never calls people asking for money.
The number on Cassie’s caller ID has been linked to other scam attempts complained about online.
When we called the number, you could hear cars going by in the recording.
“You have reached the Drug Enforcement Administration Headquarters,” said the hollow recording.
It then goes to voicemail. which says, “Sorry but the user`s mailbox is full and can’t accept more messages.”
While Cassie didn’t fall for the scam, she’s looking out for others.
“Be careful with your information and who you give it to,” she said.
Never give money to anyone making threats over the phone.
It’s called an extortion scam, and the Better Business Bureau says they can come in a variety of ways: scammers pretending to be MLGW, threatening to turn off your lights, or police saying you’ve been caught on a red light camera.
Just remember, none of these agencies, including the DEA, will ever demand money over the phone.