Phone App Allows Scammers to Impersonate Police

Santa Rosa police Monday reported a phone scam with a twist.

A man claiming to be a federal officer called a Santa Rosa resident at work around noon, Sgt. Phil Brazis said. The caller, who knew the resident’s address and location of employment, said the resident had earned more income than had reported, and directed the resident to go to a Walgreens store or CVS Pharmacy to get cash to pay their tax debt, Brazis said.

When the resident questioned the caller about his identity, the resident received another phone call from someone claiming to be a Santa Rosa Police Department employee, Brazis said. The resident’s caller ID showed that call was coming from the Santa Rosa Police Department’s main phone number, Brazis said.

The second caller told the resident he had been listening in on the call from the federal officer, and he told the resident to cooperate or a police officer would arrive and arrest the resident on federal charges, Brazis said.

The resident then called Santa Rosa police.

Brazis said law enforcement agencies never call residents demanding payment for any reason.

Brazis said some and smartphone applications now allow callers to alter their true phone number by substituting another number, such as a police department’s, to make the scam call appear legitimate. Residents who receive such calls from a government officials demanding payment should get the caller’s name and call back number, Brazis said.

Before making any payments, residents should independently confirm the business’s phone number before calling and confirming the caller’s identity, Brazis said.

Phone scammers use intimidation, threats and raised voices to force compliance, and residents who are targeted for potential scams should call their local law enforcement agency, Brazis said.

--Bay City News