Copyright Joliet, IL Patch
"I didn't want to believe that there are people out there who could be this evil and do something like this," she said. BERKELEY, CA — Danielle White had already faced a difficult few months when she got a phone call in October that made it worse. A person claiming to be an Oakland Police Department officer was on the line. They told White she had failed to appear for jury duty on a huge federal case. She was being cited and could face jail time, she was informed. If you don't pay the citations now, officers will go to your home and arrest you, White recalls being told. You'll have to stay in jail for 72 hours before your case is presented to a judge, they told her. "It was terrifying — the thought of me possibly going to jail," White, a Berkeley resident, told Patch. "I was also trying to convince myself that it was real, that once I followed all of their directions and demands, that it would be over." By the end of the following day, White said she had been scammed out of nearly her entire life savings — $69,000. "I'm a pretty trusting, nice human being," White, who works as a special education teacher, said. "I didn't want to believe that there are people out there who could be this evil and do something like this." 'Once the fear has been established' The Federal Trade Commission released a statement in March, warning people that no government agency, including courts, will ever ask anyone to make a payment over the phone. The government agency advised people who get this call to ignore it and avoid giving out any personal information. The Alameda Police Department issued a similar statement on Oct. 30, just over a week after White was scammed, warning people to be aware of scammers impersonating police officers. "The scammer claims to be an officer or deputy, stating you have a warrant for a missed court date or unpaid citations," the Alameda Police Department explained. "Once the fear has been established, the scammer will give you the option to pay immediately to avoid your 'pending arrest' or to clear up your 'citations.' In some cases, like White's, the scammer will claim there is a gag order in place to discourage victims from telling anyone about the call. Everything about the call seemed legit, White said. The people on the line had her old address in Oakland and other personal information, she recalled. Police scanners played in the background of the phone call, and they kept transferring her to different people within the supposed police department, she said. They sent her what appeared to be a gag order and legal documents explaining that she needed to exchange her cash into bitcoin to pay off the fine. 'Trust your gut' After sending $69,000 in the form of bitcoin to the scammers, White realized something had to be wrong. She hung up on the scammers and reported her experience to the Berkeley Police Department. An officer, White said, told her that it would be difficult to catch whoever scammed her as they often operate in other parts of the country or internationally. The Berkeley Police Department did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Since being scammed, White said she has filed a complaint with her bank, which she said couldn't help her because she withdrew the money. She's also filed reports with the FBI and the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, in hopes of getting her money back. Although she's feeling hopeful that someone out there might be able to help her, she realizes that it could take months or not happen at all. "I'm working to keep my mind off it," White said. "I won't want to get my hopes up and have it not happen." White also expects her story will help others avoid being a victim of this scam. The 31-year-old says to "trust your gut" if something feels off. A GoFundMe has been set up to help White get back on her feet. It has so far raised $3,875 out of a $7,000 goal. Anyone looking to donate can find the fundraiser here.
