LAWRENCE, Ind. — The Lawrence Police Department is issuing a warning about scam phone calls.
The department said its received reports of an ongoing phone scam, in which individuals receive fraudulent calls from a "police officer" from the agency claiming they owe money to Lawrence police for tickets or other violations.
"The Lawrence Police Department does not make these types of phone calls and would NEVER request anyone to make a payment via Cash App or Apple Pay," the department said in a statement.
The department cautioned these types of scams are designed to "exploit fear and pressure victims into making payments to the scammers."
The department shared the following advice on what to be aware of:
- Caller claims: Scammers may impersonate law enforcement officers or use official-sounding language to intimidate victims. They might claim that you have unpaid fines, warrants, or outstanding tickets, and that you need to make immediate payments to avoid arrest or legal consequences.
- Demands for payment: Scammers may instruct you to make payments through methods such as prepaid debit cards, gift cards, wire transfers or cryptocurrency. Legitimate law enforcement agencies do not request payments through these methods.
- Caller ID spoofing: Scammers often manipulate caller ID information to make it appear as though the call is coming from a legitimate police department or government agency. Do not trust caller ID alone.
The department said if you do receive a suspicious call, you should verify the call and not provide personal information or make any payments. You should also not use any phone numbers provided by a suspicious caller.
If you believe you have encountered the scam, you can report it to the Lawrence Police Department at 317-545-7575.
