Cranston Police Warn Of Scammers Posing As Officers

CRANSTON, RI — Cranston police have warned residents about a recent scam, where a caller will impersonate a police officer.

Police said they have received several reported from residents from scammers posing as officers to steal money and victims' information. According to police, the scam usually goes as follows:

• The caller falsely claims the resident was a witness in a court case and missed a court date, resulting in a bench warrant.
• The scammer demands a large payment to clear the warrant via Bitcoin ATMs, Apple Pay, or other electronic methods.
• Scammers may also leave voicemails using our official number as the caller ID, requesting the resident to call back at a different number.

Cranston police said they will never request payment over the phone, ask for Bitcoin or any other electronic funds transfer methods. If you receive a call of this nature, do not comply, hang up immediately, and call Cranston police at 401-942-2211 to verify the information. Remember, never provide your personal or financial information over the phone.

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