- January 4, 2019
- Posted by: Sage Shield Safety Consultants
- Category: Overseas Occupational Health And Safety News
Safety Alert: Rip-off Presents as Searcy Authorities Department
SEARCY, Ark.– In the video game of Monopoly, a player’s finest weapon is the “Leave Prison Free” card.
In Searcy, a scammer’s finest weapon is currently a “Get Out of Prison for a Charge” call.
Authorities state scammers are impersonating the department’s primary number through an app and demanding cash to bail a relative out of prison. The department got more than 250 calls Thursday from individuals stating they got the call.
“We’ve had residents from at least 20 states call and validate it was the Searcy Cops Department’s number that was trying to scam them,” Cpl. Michael Bullock said. “We don’t ask for loan over the phone, and we’re not going to threaten you over the phone if you do not give us the cash.”
Cpl. Bullock stated it’s a fraud citizens have not lost money on yet, but dispatchers have wasted time.
“We field numerous calls each day,” he said. “Adding on to that, these frivolous calls, is definitely going to problem them a lot. Sometimes it’s tough to convince the callers that they’re being scammed.”
Cpl. Bullock does not know what app the scammers are utilizing however does understand although the department’s main number is a first-time target, it will not be the last as it rings in the new year.
“As soon as they find something that works, they will keep utilizing it over and over once again so it’s not going to go away,” he stated. “We just have to inform the general public and let them understand this is not what the Searcy Police Department does.”
Cpl. Bullock stated while his city department continues to investigate, state and federal authorities are likewise looking into this.
The post Safety Alert: Scam Impersonates Searcy Cops Department appeared first on WSH Asia.
