Police warn of phone calls from ‘fake’ officer

Oct. 5, 2015  PLYMOUTH EAGLE.

Plymouth Michigan News

The Canton Police Department received several phone reports last week from residents reporting phone calls from a man posing as a Canton police officer, attempting to coerce them into sending funds to avoid arrest.

The caller told the residents that they had missed jury duty and would have a warrant issued for their arrest if they did not send a Green Dot pre-paid debit card to the caller, according to a report from the Canton police. This caller is using a 734 area code, and has referenced a judge at the 35th District Court in an attempt to authenticate the conversation, police officials said.

“Fortunately there have been no reports of individuals sending a debit card to the caller,” noted Canton Community Relations Ofc. Patty Esselink in a prepared statement.

“Canton Police would like to take this opportunity to remind residents that the department would never request payment of any kind over the phone, or via a pre-paid debit card,” she added. “Most individuals receiving a call like this would probably recognize it as a scam, but some of our more vulnerable community members might not,” said Esselink. “We encourage every- one to speak with their parents, young adults, and friends about the numerous, on-going scams out there, and to recommend when receiving a questionable call, they contact the agency being represented directly to establish validity of the caller.”

Residents who believe they may have been the victim of a scam should contact the Canton Police Department at (734) 394- 5400.

Plymouth Voice