Davenport Police are warning the community about a scam that has scammers posing as Davenport Police employees. This according to a post on the department's Facebook page.

Scammers call unsuspecting citizens and threaten them with arrest unless they can pay a hefty fine. If the citizen agrees then the scammers talk them through paying their "fine" with pre paid credit cards. Additionally, they're spoofing the Davenport Police Department's phone number so it show's up on your phone and the scammers are using the names of Davenport Police employees.

This is not the Davenport Police Department calling. As their Facebook post reminds people: "We will not attempt to solicit money from anyone over the phone and legal fines cannot be paid on those types of pre paid charge cards."

Davenport Police says not to pay the fines and report any calls to the Davenport Police Department at 563-326-7979.

It's getting harder and harder to NOT fall for scams. Especially one like this where the police department's phone number shows up on your phone's caller ID box and the scammers are using police department employees names.

That said, when you receive an unsolicited call from someone who says they're from a local police department, a local utility, or even a place you might have done business with. Think about what they're asking you. Especially if they're asking you for personal information like a credit card number, account number or a social security number. If they're asking you to give them money, think even harder. Especially if it requires you to get some kind of pre paid debit or credit card.

Finally, don't be afraid to tell the caller you'll get back to them. Then do the legwork and check out whether or not the place that called you actually called you. That extra work may save you some time, money and aggravation down the road.

Here's the Davenport Police Department's Faceboook post:

 

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