Phone Warrant Scam

(COLUMBIA, MO) -

                                        PHONE WARRANT SCAM

The Columbia Police Department has received multiple phone calls this week about the Phone Warrant Scam that has been plaguing Boone County Residents this summer. The warrant scam  is where the caller impersonates a Deputy or Court Employee in an attempt to gain personal and financial information by telling citizens they have a warrant for their arrest for failing to report for jury duty. In each case, the scammer asks for citizens debit or credit information to take care of the ficticious warrant. Government agencies do not telephone citizens asking for payment with debit, credit or green dot cards.

Here are some safety tips:

1.)  NEVER give out personal information such as credit card numbers and expiration dates, bank account numbers, dates of birth, or social security numbers to unfamiliar companies or unknown persons.

2.)  If you call the number back that called you to verify the information and a recording picks up not stating the name of the company, this is a scam.

3.)  Make a phone call to verify the information. A thirty second phone call can save you money.

4.)   If something doesn't seem right, it's not right.

If you have information about a fraud, report it to a law enforcement agency.