The Suffolk County Police Department is warning residents of a phone scam that involves callers spoofing a Suffolk County Police Department phone number and demanding money.
A Melville man reported to police he received two phone calls earlier today. During the first call, the victim was instructed to remain on the line, drive to his bank and await further instructions on how to clear up a warrant for criminal activity. During the course of the call, the man received a second phone call which displayed a legitimate Second Precinct phone number on his caller ID. The caller provided a fake badge number and threatened to arrest the man if he did not comply with the instructions from the first caller.
The scammers used spoofing software to enable the calls to appear as if they were coming from legitimate sources.
Members of the Suffolk County Police Department will never call the public asking for money.
For more information on common scams and how to prevent becoming a victim, visit www.suffolkpd.org.
** Chief Stuart Cameron will be available to answer questions about this scam after the 11:30 press conference at Suffolk County Police Headquarters regarding the undercover operation involving window tinting.
To report a crime anonymously, call 1-800-220-TIPS or text “SCPD” and your message to CRIMES (274637) or visit www.tipsubmit.com. You may be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000 if your tip results in an arrest.