Recently, officers with the Benton Police Department took a report of a scam involving a suspect impersonating an officer. The suspect called the victim in the case and identified themselves as being a Benton Police Department officer. The suspect told the victim they had missed jury duty and that the judge had ordered an arrest warrant on them for missing it. The suspect then convinced the victim to provide them with their credit card information over the phone so they could ‘take care of it’ for them. Unfortunately, the victim was scammed out of several hundred dollars in this case.
This seems to be a common tactic that criminals are starting to employ across the state, but it’s the first time here. Another tactic they’ve used in other parts of the state include telling the victim to buy money cards for several hundred dollars to avoid the arrest warrant.
One thing to keep in mind if you receive a call like this one is we will never demand payment from you over the phone. We will also never ask to meet you somewhere out of the way to make payments or be served with a warrant.
If you’re ever in doubt about the legitimacy of an officer’s identity, then please don’t hesitate to contact us at 501-778-1171 to verify they are indeed an officer with our agency. Also, please make note of any information the suspect may provide because we will press charges on anyone impersonating an officer to the fullest extent of the law.
