Phone Scammers Posing As Michigan State Police
TAYLOR (WWJ) - Michigan State Police are warning the public to beware of a new phone scam that involves criminals posing as members of the force.
According to police, numerous citizens have reported calls in which the caller claims to be a member of law enforcement. The caller tells the recipient that there is a warrant for their arrest and to avoid being arrested, they must pay a fine.
Officials say scams can take many forms, but citizens should know that law enforcement will never call them to notify of a warrant. They'll also never ask for money or bank account information.
Most scams involve obtaining a victim's personal information under false pretenses. The scammer usually portrays a sense of urgency, pretending to be an official of a legitimate organization to fool a victim into providing personal information or money.
To avoid becoming a victim of a scam:
- Do not give personal information to unknown callers
- Do not respond to unsolicited e-mails from unknown senders
- Confirm the identity of a contact by independently speaking with the identified source (your bank, credit card company, government agency, etc.)
- Ask for a call-back name and number and then use a reliable source, such as the phone book, to confirm the contact's phone number or e-mail
- Report any suspicious contacts to police
