Glastonbury Police Issue Cop Impersonation Scam Warning

GLASTONBURY, CT — Glastonbury police are warning residents about an imposter scare involving callers claiming to be cops.

A resident in town recently received a call from a voice claiming to be "Officer Davis" from the Glastonbury Police Department, authorities said. "Officer Davis" said he was conducting an investigation with the "Attorney General's Office" and instructed the resident to go to a bank, get funds, transfer those funds into a different type of currency and wire them back to him, police said.

The incoming phone number was, in fact, showing the Glastonbury Police Department's number, but that's not unusual in a tactic known as "spoofing," police said.

"Officer Davis" also told the resident to call a Washington DC phone number and ask for "David Freidman" once the transaction was completed, police said.

Glastonbury police offered four steps to recognize scammers:

• Did they make contact? (scammers are the ones initiating contact)
• Did they offer a deal or present a dilemma?
• Did they tell me I absolutely must act now, that it can't wait?
• Are they trying to scare me or make me emotional?

"Most scammers do all of the above," police said. "Always do your own homework and verify any odd request by your own means (i.e. calling back the number on your utility bill, instead of staying on the phone with someone threatening to shut off your electricity). And of course call us if you're not sure. But never pay out money on a one time call/urgent request."