Austin Police Alert Residents To Potential Phone Scam

AUSTIN, TX — The Austin Police Department on Wednesday warned residents of a growing number of calls being made to home from people claiming to be from their departments public information office.

It's a scam, police suggested. While the number registered on caller IDs is the one for the public information office — that number is (512) 974-5017 — the calls are not generated from the department's public information office.

Police advised anyone receiving such calls to ask for a full name and badge number of the person calling, along with the reason for their outreach. Additionally, people can call (512) 974-5017 — the official public information office for the Austin Police Department — to verify whether previous contact was legitimate, officials said.

Residents also can contact the police public information office by calling 3-1-1 or (512) 974-5000 or by emailing police3@austintexas.gov. Those who believe they may have been victimized by a potential scam are urged to call 3-1-1 to make a non-emergency report.