Westport PD Warns Residents About Gift Card Phone Scam

WESTPORT, CT — Several residents contacted Westport police Thursday to report receiving phone calls "from someone purporting themselves to be one of our officers or an FBI agent," according to authorities.

The calls are a scam in which the caller fraudulently advises the residents they are the subject of an arrest warrant and wanted by Westport police. The caller then requested payment from the residents in the form of gift cards to avoid arrest.

"Please know this is a scam and the Westport Police Department does not notify individuals by phone of existing arrest warrants," officials said. "We also never collect bond/bail payments over the phone or in the form of prepaid gift cards. Some of these calls can be very convincing."

To report such incidents, or to check the legitimacy of such a call, contact the Westport Police Department's main non-emergency number at 203-341-6000.