- January 14, 2025
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By: Bunnell Police Department
Phone scammers have been impersonating Bunnell Police Department officers to trick locals into sending money.
The Flagler County Sheriff's Office notified the Bunnell Police Department that the FCSO had received complaints from area residents regarding a phone “spoofing” scam where the scammer caller manipulates the phone system so that the victim’s caller ID shows the same phone number as the one for the Bunnell Police Department.
When the victim answers, the caller says they're a Bunnell Police Department officer with an arrest warrant, then instructs the person to provide credit card information to pay a fine in order to avoid arrest.
“Be assured, no real police department or sheriff’s office conducts business like this – ever!” Bunnell Police Chief David Brannon said. “I urge residents to immediately hang up if they receive a call or message from anyone making these demands, and call the local law enforcement agency to report the incident.”
While these incidents are difficult to prevent, residents can protect themselves by not participating in the scam.
Scammers sometimes call claiming that a relative of the victim was involved in a serious car accident, usually out-of-state or in another country, and urges the call’s recipient to wire money to either pay for medical treatment or to get out of jail, only to later learn that the relative is actually safe at their home.
Also, scammers engage in “phishing” expeditions and send an important text or email.
Don't click on anything in an unsolicited email or text message.
Look up the company's phone number on your own (don't use the one a potential scammer is providing) and call the company to ask if the request is legitimate.
Carefully examine the email address, website address, and pay close attention to the spelling used.
If something appears off, it most likely is.
The FBI suggests the following to protect yourself from spoofing and phishing scams:
If you believe you are a victim of an online scam, contact your local FBI office.
Victims are also encouraged to report the incident to the FBI's Internet Crime Center at www.ic3.gov.
