Local police departments warn of spoofed phone number scams

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. — The East Prairie Police Department warned residents early this week of a spoof phone number scam posing as the police department.

The East Prairie Police Department made a post to its official Facebook page, which said: “Our police department number has been spoofed, 573-649-3511. They are using our number to solicit and portraying to be an East Prairie officer. Do not fall for this. It is not real.”

“The caller was soliciting and acting as an officer — not any of our officers' names — but he said he was with the department,” East Prairie Police Chief Lorrie Christian said.

The police chief said she called the city's telephone provider who said there was nothing they could and suggested she file a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission, or FCC, which is what she did.

“What bothers me is the elderly who may not realize the call is from a spoofed number,” Christian said.

However, there are things individuals can do to avoid becoming a victim of these scams, she said.

“If the caller is asking for donations, ask them for a good callback number and then call them back to see if they're asking for donations,” Christian said. “Or you can look up the phone number of the organization or business and call and ask them if they're seeking donations.”

If anyone receives a scam phone call, Christian said they should report it to their local law enforcement agency.

The police chief said: “The bottom line is don't give out any personal and account information, and simply hang up the phone.”

A Scott County business is facing a similar situation.

The Scott City Police Department warned Tuesday, June 27 of a spoof phone number scam posing as Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel.

The spoofed phone number would call and ask for people's "personal information to change or get life insurance." The funeral home made the police department aware of the scam and assured them none of their funeral homes would ever "attempt to sell you life insurance and request your personal information."

The Scott City Police Department said in its Facebook post that if the public receives a similar call to the scam, to contact the funeral home to verify, and the person can contact their local law enforcement agency.