Police warn against telephone scam collecting money for outstanding warrants

Phone scam alert | Stock image, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — Police are warning of a new telephone scam circulating Washington County.

The St. George Police Department issued a fraud alert Thursday afternoon on the SGPD Facebook page, stating they have received multiple reports from citizens who are receiving calls from an individual claiming to be an employee of the St. George Police Department demanding payment for outstanding warrants.

The call will show the phone number as 435-627-4300 on the caller I.D., a number that belongs to the St. George Communications Center and may appear to be legitimate.

However, the call is not originating from dispatch, but from a number that was cloned using the contact number for dispatch, Officer Lona Trombley with the St. George Police Department said.

“Those obnoxious no good scammers have cloned our number, there’s an app for that, and are trying to trick you, Trombley said in the release.

Police emphasize this is not how the warrant system works and that a phone call of that nature is a scam.

“The scam seemed to have started today, or at least they are trying harder today,” Trombley said.

Anyone receiving such a phone call, no matter what name is used by the caller, is urged to hang up immediately, she said.

Residents should not to make any payments to these people, no matter how much pressure the caller puts on them.

The FBI provides the following tips to avoid becoming a victim of telephone scams.

  • Always be suspicious of unsolicited phone calls.
  • Never give money or personal information to someone with whom you don’t have ties and did not initiate contact.
  • Trust your instincts: if an unknown caller makes you uncomfortable or says things that don’t sound right, hang up.

This report is based on statements from police or other emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @STGnews

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2017, all rights reserved.

 

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