Washington D.C. Voice Phishing Reporting Procedures and Evidence Collection

In the District, voice phishing scams are on the rise. Criminals often spoof caller IDs to resemble local government agencies or trusted banks. The D.C. Office of the Attorney General has warned that scams involving "overdue tax payments," "unclaimed refunds," and "compromised accounts" have become increasingly sophisticated.

Residents are urged to avoid disclosing personal or financial information over the phone. Government agencies, including the IRS, FBI, and D.C. government, do not ask for money transfers or financial data over calls. Suspicious requests should be verified by directly calling the agency’s official number.

1. Contact Law Enforcement: Report the incident to the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) by calling 911 (for emergencies) or 311 for non-emergencies. You can also visit your local precinct to file a formal report.
2. Federal Reporting: Notify the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) via their online portal at reportfraud.ftc.gov and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at ic3.gov.
3. Notify Your Bank: If funds were transferred, contact your bank or credit union immediately to request a freeze on suspicious accounts and initiate a fraud investigation.
4. Report to D.C. Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (DISB): DISB can offer further support, especially if financial service providers were involved. Call (202) 727-8000 or visit disb.dc.gov.

You can report phone numbers used in scams to the FTC and your phone service provider. This helps stop future fraud by alerting carriers and regulators to suspicious patterns.

• Call Logs: Document the caller ID, date, and time of the phishing call.
• Call Recordings: If possible, record the call or retrieve recordings from voicemail.
• Screenshots: Capture any suspicious texts, emails, or messenger app content.
• Bank Statements: Secure records of unauthorized transactions or attempted wire transfers.
• Correspondence: Save emails or letters related to the scam.

These materials should be submitted with your police or FTC report and stored securely for any future civil or criminal litigation.

Legal counsel can assist with:

• Filing fraud recovery claims with financial institutions
• Initiating civil litigation against intermediaries or negligent entities
• Pursuing damages for emotional distress or breach of fiduciary duty
• Navigating insurance claims, if applicable

You are entitled to support and recourse under Washington D.C.’s Consumer Protection Procedures Act (D.C. Code § 28-3901 et seq.).

Even if the scam amount seems minor, always report the incident. Coordinated law enforcement responses rely on aggregated data. Early reporting and robust documentation are your strongest assets in fighting voice phishing fraud.