Recognizing the Scam
The police department has received several calls from residents of a telephone scam that is being committed. A resident receives a call from an unknown person who requests that the resident call a specific telephone number to obtain information about an unknown relative who has been involved in a serious accident. When the phone number is called, there isn’t anyone on the other end. From that point on, the resident’s phone calls have been forwarded to that number they just called, and a party on the other end of that telephone number can make calls from that number and bill them to the residents telephone account. On one of these incidents the resident’s caller ID displayed “prison” when the initial call was received.
Residents should be mindful about the potential for receiving suspicious telephone calls. If in doubt, do not call the number given and contact the police immediately.
