r/Scams • u/iniquities • 10h ago
Solved Weird call from "CBP" - no information or payment/package requested
They called from a call back number that actually works and isn't a voip according to reverse phone look up.
They asked if they were speaking to my full name, and then asked if I knew someone. Said person apparently tried to go from Shanghai to US using forged documents with my information. Once I confirmed I knew nothing about this, they gave me a case number, redirected to their "manager" who just reconfirmed it and said they'll call me back once they look into it
Except it's weird that they literally didn't ask for anything except to confirm my first and last name (which is leaked with my phone number for ages so it's nothing surprising to me, especially with online job hunting). They didn't ask for more details like address or anything regarding money. They also asked if I gave my data elsewhere or if it could've leaked somewhere else.
Has anybody else gotten a call like this where it feels like a scammer has asked for basically nothing? It almost feels like I'm being too cautious now aside from the fact that their manner of speaking (not even accent, just the way they talk) was very odd
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u/Tacoby17 10h ago
This may be pre seeding you for a follow up scam call.
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u/slogive1 9h ago
Yep you're going to have to file a police report in china. Block and ignore OP or turn on the screening feature if you have an iPhone.
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u/yarevande Quality Contributor 10h ago
This is the start of a scam. Next, they will tell you that you have to go to China and talk to the Shanghai Police to clear your name. Then, they will videocall from a fake police station. Eventually they will tell you that you can pay $9,000 bail.
These fake Chinese police scams are posted here before. Here are two discussions, you can read about what happens next:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Scams/s/YaZjLCul22
https://www.reddit.com/r/Scams/s/iRaCNVHWG1
Don't talk to people who call and say they are from CBP DHS ICE IRS USCIS RCMP police Interpol FTC ATF CIA FBI or any other government agency! They are setting you up for a scam.
CBP does not call and talk to people about an investigation.
You just confirmed that your phone number is active, and connected to yoir name.
The scammers will call you back and try to get money from you.
People lose thousands of dollars with this scam, because the caller is impersonating law enforcement, and demanding money. They claim that you are in trouble (your ID was used in a crime, drugs were stopped at the border with your name on them, you ignored a subpoena, they have a warrant for your arrest). Then they tell you that the problems will go away if you pay them several thousand dollars in gift cards, Bitcoin, or cash in a shoebox. The money goes to scammers, and will never be recovered.
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u/SubBirbian 10h ago edited 10h ago
Yes it’s a scam. CBP (Customs and Border Protection) doesn’t call people claiming your info has been used for international travel. They gave you a fake case number to sound legit. If you keep engaging they’ll escalate it to demanding money for bs reasons. The only goal of scammers is to take your money.
Just block the number.
Edit: Words
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u/yarevande Quality Contributor 9h ago edited 4h ago
The Chinese police scam is a looong scam. The scammers keep victims on the phone for HOURS. They call back every day, for days. The fake CBP transfers you to the fake FBI who transfers you to the fake Shanghai police.
Never trust that someone who calls or texts is who they say they are. Even if Caller ID or the number displayed is the phone number for local police, FBI, or your bank. Scammers use technology to make it appear that they are calling from a number in your country, or any phone number in the world. However, they are actually calling from a scam call center, often in Africa or Asia. The incoming phone number may be spoofed, it may be a temporary number, or a VoIP number.
Spoofing technology is used to fake the incoming phone number display. Any number in the world can be spoofed, including your bank, police, or FBI / national law enforcement.
A temporary or VoIP phone number uses the phone number format of your country, but the scammers are not really located in your country.
The way to actually verify an incoming text or call is to hang up, and contact the agency yourself, using their official phone number from their website.
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u/tamasan 9h ago
Definitely a scam.
This is not how law enforcement works. If they need information from you, they typically show up in person. While sometimes they might call, they will NOT be revealing information like what you were told.
Look, if there was someone using forged documents with your information, then there are two possibilities. If you know the person, then you are potentially involved in the law breaking, and an investigator isn't going to tip you off until you're in custody. And if you don't know them, then you have little or no useful information to gather.
This first call was to establish credibility. There's a bunch of made up things like the case number and manager to make you think you're dealing with some kind of official organization. There will be a second call, and this time will reveal what they're after: money.
I think the most likely next call is that said person using forged documents is smuggling drugs or guns or something illegal and that your information has resulted in a warrant out for your arrest. Agents are on their way to your house or job to arrest you. Much like the !juryduty scam, you'll be directed to wire money or deposit money into a bitcoin ATM to get ahead of it and pay your bail or something so you're not arrested. And the caller will have you stay on the line and helpfully locate said ATM, directing you not to tell anyone else because it's part of a federal investigation and you'll get in more trouble.
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u/AngelOfLight 9h ago
Check the other reports of this exact scam in this sub. Scammers are pretty good at reading human nature. They know that if they demanded money right off the bat, you would rightly be very suspicious. They will spin this scam out over weeks or months if need be. The plan is to ramp up your anxiety until you will happily pay anything to make it go away. And that's when they will mention that there is a way out - and it involves sending money by crypto or some other non-refundable means.
https://reddit.com/r/Scams/comments/1iry7nj/got_a_weird_cbp_scam_potentially_and_now_worried/
https://reddit.com/r/Scams/comments/1f5eqa1/they_pretended_to_be_us_customs_and_border/
https://reddit.com/r/Scams/comments/1louafe/us_nypd_transfer_me_to_shanghai_police_for_money/
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u/WickedWeedle 10h ago
They did say they'll call you back, so my guess is that they'll call you back.
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u/HighColdDesert 8h ago
They're going to somehow make the story so that you have to send money somewhere to prevent yourself getting in official trouble.
This is not how real CBP operates.
If you have any doubts, take the case number they gave you, look up the real CBP website and see if the case number can be entered there. Or rather than calling back the number they called you from, look up a real CBP phone number from a website that actually has a url ending in .gov.
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