Multiple US Counties Face Surge in Police Impersonation Scam Calls

Law enforcement agencies across multiple regions are warning residents about a surge in phone scams where callers impersonate police officers or government officials to demand payments for alleged warrants, missed court dates, or jury duty. These scammers often use real names of officers and urge victims to pay via websites, gift cards, or money transfers to avoid arrest or legal trouble, but police departments emphasize they never request payments or personal financial information over the phone. In McHenry County, Norwalk, St. Joseph County, Gaithersburg, and even Singapore's Ministry of Health, officials have issued alerts advising people to hang up, avoid engagement, and verify claims directly with the respective agencies. The scams frequently target the elderly and vulnerable populations, prompting authorities to encourage community awareness and reporting of such calls. In Singapore, over 200 people are under investigation for government impersonation scams that caused multimillion-dollar losses, highlighting the global reach and seriousness of these fraudulent activities. Experts recommend using call-blocking tools, never sharing sensitive information over phone calls, and reporting scam attempts to authorities to help combat these increasing threats.