WASHINGTON, D.C. — Police in Washington D.C. have issued a warning about a scam targeting incarcerated individuals, in which fraudsters are impersonating the Chief of Police through emails containing a forged letter about parole release.
According to officials, scammers have created a fake letter claiming to be from the Washington, D.C., State Police and California State Police. The letter informs recipients that they have been granted parole but must pay a probation fee to finalize the release or risk having the parole revoked.
The email scam has so far only been reported in California and not in the District of Columbia. However, authorities are urging the public to remain cautious of unsolicited communications and to avoid providing personal or financial information to unknown parties.
The Metropolitan Police Department emphasized that it never requests payment, financial information, or personal data by phone, email, or letter. “Scammers may use public information to appear legitimate, but it’s important not to feel pressured to act,” officials stated, urging individuals to verify any suspicious communications directly with official agencies.
Those who suspect they have been targeted or victimized by this scam in D.C. are encouraged to contact MPD’s Financial and Cyber Crimes Unit at (202) 727-4159 or mpd.fraud-unit@dc.gov. Additional resources for identifying and reporting fraud can be found on the U.S. Department of Justice website at https://www.justice.gov/criminal/criminal-fraud/report-fraud.