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New Phone Scam: Caller Claims To Be Michigan State Police

Posted at 12:39 PM, Oct 08, 2013
and last updated 2013-10-08 12:39:56-04

MSP Cruiser lightsROCKFORD,Mich. — According to a press release from the Michigan State Police a new scam has been reported involving persons posing as members of the MSP, claiming you must pay money to clear a warrant.

Citizens have reported calls in which the caller claims to be a member of law enforcement. The caller says there is a warrant for your arrest and to avoid being arrested you must pay a fine.

Scams can take many forms, but citizens should know that law enforcement will never call you to notify you of a warrant and to ask for money or bank account information.

Most scams involve obtaining a victim’s personal information under false pretenses. The scammer usually portrays a sense of urgency, pretending to be an official of a legitimate organization to fool a victim into providing personal information or money.

To avoid becoming a victim of a scam:

  • Do not give personal information to unknown callers.
  • Do not respond to unsolicited e-mails from unknown senders.
  • Confirm the identity of a contact by independently speaking with the identified source (your bank, credit card company, government agency, etc.)
  • Ask for a call-back name and number and then use a reliable source, such as the phone book, to confirm the contact’s phone number or e-mail.
  • Report any suspicious contacts to police.