Recently, some criminals have been disguising their phone numbers as those of Massachusetts or town police departments to deceive residents into believing they owe fines. In response to this, the police department is warning residents that law enforcement will not call to discuss fines or arrests.
On April 30th, the Massachusetts State Police issued a warning on social media, stating that some residents in the state have fallen victim to these fraudulent schemes. “These calls may appear to be coming from a Massachusetts State Police phone number, however, these calls are spoofed and not legitimate,” the post from the Massachusetts State Police department read.
The post further stated, “State Police do not conduct fundraising, nor do they solicit anything over the phone. If you receive such a call, hang up and do not provide any personal or financial information.”
The State Police also advised residents to be cautious even if they receive calls from other seemingly legitimate charitable organizations and recommended verifying the legitimacy of the organization through the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office.
Additionally, the Bridgewater Police Department in Massachusetts recently issued a similar alert. The department stated that individuals have been calling local residents claiming to be from the Bridgewater Police Department and threatening arrest if fines are not paid.
Authorities explained that criminals can use technical means to “clone” a police department’s phone number, making it appear as though the call is coming from law enforcement. These criminals often demand victims to purchase cash cards to pay false fines.
“The Bridgewater Police Department does not solicit fines over the phone from any community members to avoid arrest. Additionally, the Bridgewater Police Department does not call to request any form of payment, including gift cards. We urge anyone who receives such fraudulent calls to hang up immediately and contact the police department,” the statement said.