New London Police Warn Residents About Increase In Scam Calls

NEW LONDON, CT — Police are warning residents about an increase in scam calls that appear to come from a local police department.

More information is available in a statement below from the New London Police Department:

Scammers pretending to be members of law enforcement have been making calls to targeted individuals using phone numbers that appear to come from a real local police department or blocked number. The scammers may provide a name, rank, and badge number of an actual police officer or one completely made up, in order to gain the trust of their victims to steal money and identification.

These scammers sometimes research professional and personal information of the victim, on social media or other open-information sources, to gain trust or make their schemes more believable.

The information gathered by the scammer -- such as failing to report for jury duty, failure to appear as a witness to a court hearing, or other offenses -- is used against the victim to collect money with prepaid debit cards, gift cards, or collect your banking information.

Citizens should understand law enforcement will not demand payment of money by way of phone call or email.

- Make your social media accounts private and only accept requests and messages from people you know.

- Be wary of answering phone calls from unrecognizable numbers.

- Call, on another phone, the number that you were called from to confirm the legitimacy of the caller and reason for the call.

- Know that a police department or law enforcement officer will never solicit money – particularly through gift cards – from the public.

- Never give your personal information, including banking information – to someone over the phone.

- Do not send money to people or organizations that you do not personally know and trust.

- If you receive a call that appears to be government impersonation fraud, disconnect without providing any personal information and without adhering to the caller’s instructions

- Warn family, friends, and associates about the scam, so they can be on high alert.