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State Patrol warns of scam spoofing official phone number

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Officials with the Washington State Patrol say an official phone number is being “spoofed” in an apparent scam attempt.

Spoofing occurs when a caller masquerades as someone else by forging the number that appears on caller ID devices.

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Officials said they became aware that a number associated with the State Patrol was being spoofed on Monday afternoon.

“Fraudulent bomb threats are being made with voicemail instructions to go to a suspicious website in an apparent scam attempt,” a spokesperson for the State Patrol wrote in a news release.

Officials said there is no indication the calls reflect an actual threat.

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Anyone who receives the call is asked to report the threat and any caller ID information.

Officials said the voicemail is “designed to confuse or frighten the unsuspecting and vulnerable.”

The State Patrol continues to investigate the situation.