Charleston, WV — Paying to end criminal investigations is never an option with West Virginia State Police. An agency spokesperson said residents need to remember that in case they’re targeted in a circulating scam as troopers continue to work to identify the source of the scam. As part of it, people have received emails demanding payment from those falsely claiming to be with the State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigations. The fake claim is that an active investigation is underway, and payments will keep evidence from that investigation from being submitted to the State Police Forensic Lab for testing. Investigators aren’t sure how widespread the scam is.

Some signs of this scam include the following:
– A caller demands immediate payment to stop investigations;
– There’s a requirement for a specific payment method, like a prepaid credit card;
– Those contacted are asked for credit or debit card numbers over the phone;
– And there are threats of arrest or continued investigation without payments.

WVSP said those who receives a questionable phone call or email they can call their nearest detachment.