(USNewsBreak.com) – Impersonating a federal agent is a serious crime in the United States that can carry penalties of jail time and a fine. Yet, many people do so each year, typically with sinister purposes in mind. Authorities in California recently arrested two people for allegedly pretending they were Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to rob people.
On Monday, June 24, the City of Anaheim Police announced that detectives had responded to two separate robberies and found connections between them. Two men reportedly approached the victims, Latino residents in the area, flashed fake badges, and demanded money before taking off with the funds in a blue SUV. They allegedly spoke Spanish to the victims.
Two California robbers arrested after impersonating ICE agents to target Latinohttps://t.co/PsCdXCit78 pic.twitter.com/kcdmwLQrcX
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) June 25, 2024
Police eventually arrested Laurentiu Baceanu, 20, and Vasile Alexandru, 19, in connection with the crimes. Authorities booked them into jail without bail, and they are facing several charges, including impersonating an officer and robbery. Detectives believe they carried out similar crimes elsewhere in California and the Western United States, and they are looking for additional victims to come forward.
This incident was an example of just one of the scams going around, lately. In other cases, scammers have allegedly impersonated ICE officers and made phone calls to people, threatening them with immediate deportation or arrest unless they paid thousands of dollars or provided sensitive data. Reports indicate they have coerced people into revealing personally identifiable information that they could use to steal their identities or put them at further risk.
The District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (DISB) issued a warning for its residents that applied nationwide. ICE officers will not call immigrants on the phone, and they will never request financial information or demand payment.
Anyone who believes they might have fallen victim to such a scam should call the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Office of Inspector General at 1-800-323-8603 or contact their local police.
Copyright 2024, USNewsBreak.com
