Danbury PD Says Beware of Scam With Impostor Police

There is always someone looking to get over on someone else.

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These people will do just about anything to separate you from your money. As sad as that is, it's true and to protect yourself, you need to know what to look for. Impostor Police Officers is the new danger in Danbury. The Danbury Police Department issued a scam alert on Christmas Eve to their Facebook page that reads:

The Danbury Police Department has recently been made aware of a phone scam using names of actual Danbury Police Department Officers. The caller will call from a "spoofed" phone number to look as though the call is actually coming from the police department. They are telling residents that a relative is in police custody and will need to purchase gift cards to have the person released. The Danbury Police Department will NEVER call and ask someone to purchase gift cards to have someone released from custody. If you receive any phone calls requesting you to do so please hang up and call the police department at 203-797-4611 to report it.

This is the second scam article I've written today about our local area, which should tell you these scams are alive and well in Greater Danbury.

More on Phone Spoofing

Phone Spoofing is when a caller deliberately falsifies the information transmitted to your caller ID display to disguise their identity. Apparently phone spoofing laws are not all they should be. According to McAlester News, phone spoofing is legal for the purposes of certain robocalls from "legitimate companies."

Aquir

The FCC prohibits spoofed calls that have the intent to defraud, cause harm or wrongly obtain anything of value. Meaning, you'd have to be able to prove the scammer had intent to defraud you and I don't know how you would do that. Then, if you can prove it, the scammer faces of fine of up to $10,000. I do not believe that is a harsh enough penalty. Phone spoofing should be illegal whether it's a legit business or not.

P.S. I'd imagine there are additional legal issues and penalties for impersonating an officer of the law. But again, you'd have to find a way to prove it.

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