Puget Sound area resident Kareem* received a startling voicemail on June 13, 2013 from a man claiming to be “Mike Anderson” of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The man stated that Kareem was “wanted” by the FBI and should turn himself in immediately. He stated that if Kareem if he didn’t surrender himself to his local police department, he would be detained and possibly arrested.
Thankfully, before taking any action in response to the caller’s request, Kareem contacted CAIR-WA for advice. CAIR-WA contacted the Seattle Division of the FBI to see if there was any truth to the call.
The FBI-Seattle responded quickly to assure CAIR-WA that the voicemail was fake and Kareem had nothing to worry about. They stated that if an agent had contacted Kareem, that agent should’ve provided their name and a valid telephone number to properly identify him/herself. In response, they recommended Kareem contact his local police department to report the fake call because for someone to falsely represent themselves as a law enforcement agent is a possible crime.
The call Kareem received may be a part of a larger scam relating to fake FBI calls and investigations. It is important before answering any questions from any federal agent or police officer to confirm that the person requesting the information is who they say they are and then to contact CAIR-WA for a referral to an attorney before speaking with law enforcement.
If you or someone you know has been contacted by anyone claiming to be an FBI or any other government agency, contact CAIR-WA immediately by calling us at (206) 367-4081 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. CAIR-WA can help confirm whether the call is valid, as well as provide attorney recommendations for those who are legitimately approached for FBI questioning.
*Name changed to maintain privacy