COLUMBUS, Ind.– The Columbus Police Department (CPD) is warning residents about several reports of scammers calling and claiming to be with the CPD.
Authorities say these scammers are “spoofing” the department phone number and requesting payment in the form of Bitcoin or gift cards.
According to the FCC, “Spoofing is when a caller deliberately falsifies the information transmitted to your caller ID display to disguise their identity. Scammers often use neighbor spoofing so it appears that an incoming call is coming from a local number, or spoof a number from a company or a government agency that you may already know and trust.”
Columbus Police emphasize that officers will never request payment over the phone, especially not in the form of Bitcoin or gift cards.
If you have questions about a suspicious phone call, you can also reach CPD by calling their dispatch center at 812-379-1689.
