Police say someone pretending to be from the FDA -- the federal Food and Drug Administration -- is calling Newtown residents and demanding money under threat of arrest.
"This is a scam," said a Newton Police Department press release issued December 10. "Do not send money."
The FDA has been a popular alias for phone scammers for years. According to a 2009 statement from the agency, criminals frequently pretend to be "special agents" or other FDA-affiliated law enforcement officials.
Scammers often target victims who have previously purchased drugs over the internet or via "telepharmacies," the agency says. In most cases, they tell victims their purchases were illegal, and demand "fines" of up to $250,000 to avoid "law enforcement action." (In reality, says the agency, FDA agents and other law enforcement officials are not authorized to collect fines.)
The FDA asks potential victims to refuse the demand and call the FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations at 800-521-5783 to report the crime.
Patch will follow this story and provide more information as it becomes available.
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