GEORGETOWN, Del. - A 2024 scam is resurfacing as scammers pose as a Lieutenant from the Georgetown Police Department.
Lieutenant Joel Diaz was listening to a voicemail on Thursday. The only problem is the person on the voicemail is claiming to be Lieutenant Diaz.
This is the first sign that you are not speaking with someone from the Georgetown Police Department. Joel Diaz was promoted to Lieutenant three years ago.
This scam started back in July 2024 when Lt. Diaz says he became an unsuspecting target.
"I was angry because for 20 some odd years I have attempted to build trust based relationships with this community. So that is an attack on the trust that I have with the community," Diaz shared.
Mara Driggers was a victim of the scam. She spoke with the scammers for nearly ten minutes before realizing something was wrong.
"They're targeting each individual based on facts that they're finding about you on the internet. So that's a scary thing," Driggers shared.
However, Driggers was not scammed out of any money. According to Driggers, the scammer hung up on her when she said she was going to call the police department.
This is the voicemail that was sent to Mara Driggers. If you listen closely, you hear pauses between the scammers words.
Lt. Diaz says he believes artificial intelligence may have been used to generate that message.
"The computer programs or the software's are getting better at creating images, duplicating voices."
Lt. Diaz spoke on the way AI has shifted how the department fights crime.
"If the crime is on video, there's a secondary question and the secondary question is, 'is it a real video? Is it a real phone call? Are they real images?'" said Diaz.
He and Chief Holm have recently attended an AI training because "it's new" and they are trying to stay ahead of the game.
The lieutenant acknowledges people are on autopilot most days but urges people to slow down.
"Pause. Sometimes you have to just pause and really process the information."
On Saturday, May 31, the Georgetown Police Department shared a warning about the scam to their Facebook page.
The scammer is telling people they are reaching out regarding a "legal matter."
Driggers says the number the scammer called from is 302-273-8618. When you call that number now, the voicemail says they are Sgt. Johnathan Moyer with the Lewes Police Department.
The Georgetown Police Department urges anyone who has been targeted to call them immediately at 302-856-6613.
Lt. Diaz says the Georgetown Police Department will never call and ask for personal information over the phone.
Scam calls and texts seem to be on the rise. Many people on Delmarva have been targeted in different ways by scammers in an attempt to steal money.