Scam alert
Caller Says Fax a Police Report or They'll Call the ATF? Hang Up
Posted
Ohio · whio.com · Arrives by a phone call, sometimes a visit in person
The short answer
A caller who says your identity was used to buy guns or ammunition, then tells you to file a police report and fax it to them by a deadline or be referred to the ATF, is running a scam. Police in Beavercreek, Ohio, said in October 2026 that people posing as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives or a credit card company are doing this, and that the report would hand over sensitive personal information. Hang up, and check your card using the number printed on it.
What is happening
In October 2026, the Beavercreek Police Department in Ohio said scammers posing as credit card company representatives or agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) were contacting people by phone or in person and claiming their identity had been used to open fraudulent credit card accounts and buy firearms or large amounts of ammunition in other states, WDTN and WHIO reported. The scammers then tell the person to file a police report and fax them a copy right away, and threaten to refer the matter to the ATF if it does not arrive by a set deadline. Police said the report would contain sensitive personal information that scammers could use for further fraud or identity theft.
How to recognize it
- You are told to file a police report and send a copy to the caller, by fax, before a deadline.
- The caller says your identity was used to open credit card accounts or to buy firearms or large amounts of ammunition in another state.
- The caller says they are from the ATF or a credit card company, and threatens to refer you to the ATF if the report does not arrive in time.
- You are given a phone number or other contact details to use, rather than being told to call the number on your own card.
- No money is asked for. What the caller wants is a document full of your personal details.
What to do instead
- Hang up, even if the caller tells you not to.
- If you are worried about a purchase or your identity, contact your credit card company yourself, using the number on your card or its official website.
- Do not use a phone number, fax number, or other contact details the caller gives you.
- Do not send a police report or any document with your personal details to someone who contacted you.
- Report the call to your local police on their non-emergency number.
- If you want to tell someone, the rule is: no real agency needs you to fax them your police report.
If it already happened
Responding to one of these is common and understandable. These steps are what people usually take next.
- Sending a document to someone who sounded official is common and understandable. These calls are built on fear and a deadline.
- Contact your local police and tell them what you sent. Beavercreek police ask anyone who thinks their identity has been misused to contact their local law enforcement agency.
- Call each credit card company on the number on your card and ask them to review your accounts.
- Report the identity theft and get a recovery plan at IdentityTheft.gov, and consider a fraud alert or credit freeze with the credit bureaus.
Common questions
- Why would a scammer want a police report instead of money?
- Beavercreek police said the report the caller asks for would contain sensitive personal information that could be used for further fraud or identity theft. The paperwork is what the caller is after.
- What if my identity really was used to open an account?
- Check it yourself. Police advise contacting your credit card company directly, through the phone number on your card or its official website, to find out whether your account or identity has been compromised. A number the caller gives you is not a safe way to check.
- Is this the same as the fake FBI agent calls?
- They are close relatives. Another alert on this site, Bank Caller Passes You to "the FBI"? Both Are Scammers. Hang Up, describes calls that also open with a claim that your details were used to buy firearms. The difference here is the ask: a police report, sent by fax, full of your personal details.
Practice this safely
Practice hanging up on a caller who sets a deadline, then checking your accounts on the number printed on your card.
Every story is fictional. There is no timer, no score, and no real message, payment, or account.
Tell someone
Copy a short note you can paste into a text or email. It names the scam, the next step, and this page. Nothing is sent from this site.
Caller Says Fax a Police Report or They'll Call the ATF? Hang Up A caller who says your identity was used to buy guns or ammunition, then tells you to file a police report and fax it to them by a deadline or be referred to the ATF, is running a scam. Police in Beavercreek, Ohio, said in October 2026 that people posing as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives or a credit card company are doing this, and that the report would hand over sensitive personal information. Hang up, and check your card using the number printed on it. Read the full alert: https://endscamsproject.com/latest-scams/atf-impersonation-police-report-scam
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This alert provides general educational information drawn from the sources above. It cannot determine whether a specific message you received is genuine, investigate an incident, or promise recovery or reimbursement.