Worthington PD reports WhatsApp scam that invokes ICE

The Worthington Police Department has reported that many residents have been receiving fraudulent calls via WhatsApp, saying Immigration and Customs Enforcement will be contacted  — or they will be arrested — if they do not pay money.

The scammer also threatens with pornographic videos, the WPD reported.  People should not send money or share personal or financial information. Police or authorities will never contact them by WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger.

There are many things a person may do if receiving a suspicious call or message. They may consider if the number is known, if they're being rushed, if they're being threatened or ask for trust, or if they're being asked to transfer money or share passwords, a personal identification number or personal information.

In such cases, people should stop the conversation and hang up. If you can't verify their identity, don't share any personal or financial information.

A next step should be blocking the user so they don't contact you anymore. Update your privacy and security settings to control who can see your information and contact you. You can also enable two-step verification for greater security in your account.

For more information on how you can protect yourself from scams, reach out to the Worthington Police Department.