Phone Scammers Demand Cash Using Real County Police Number

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — Residents are asked to be aware of a new phone scam that uses an actual police phone number before callers demand cash, authorities said.

The Suffolk County Police Department is warning residents of a phone scam that involves callers spoofing a Suffolk County Police Department phone number. According to police, a Melville man told police he'd received two phone calls.

During the first call, he was instructed to remain on the line, drive to his bank and await further instructions on how to clear up a warrant for criminal activity, police said. During the course of the call, the man received a second phone call which displayed a legitimate Suffolk County Second Precinct phone number on his caller ID, police said.

The caller provided a fake badge number and threatened to arrest the man if he did not comply with the instructions from the first caller, police said.

The scammers used spoofing software to enable the calls to appear as if they were coming from legitimate sources, police said.

Members of the Suffolk County Police Department will never call the public asking for money, police reminded.

For more information on common scams and how to prevent being targeted, click here.