HomeMy WebLinkAboutEFD_PhoneScamAlert
Contact: Kaylin Eidsness, Senior Communication Coordinator
Phone 952-833-9537 • Fax 952-826-0389 • www.EdinaMN.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Scam replicates EPD phone number on caller ID
Edina, Minn., Nov. 13, 2014 – Yesterday, the Edina Police Department received two reports of a
telephone scam in which the Police Department’s phone number, 952-826-1600, showed up on the
resident’s caller ID.
The caller claimed to be with the Edina Police Department and said they had a warrant for the
resident’s arrest. If the resident would like to get the warrant taken care of, they would need to send
the caller money.
“The Edina Police Department would never make this type of phone call,” said Crime Prevention
Specialist Molly Anderson. “If you receive a suspicious call, hang up. Never give money to someone who
calls out of the blue and requests it over the phone.”
Use these tips to protect yourself from similar phone scams:
Be wary. Con artists are friendly, smooth talkers. Bank and law enforcement agencies do not
conduct financial crime investigation by asking customers to withdraw cash from an account.
Verify Identity. Call the business or organization the caller is claiming to represent, using a
phone number you have found in the phone book or online.
Never give out personal information. Think twice about giving account numbers, social
security numbers and/or any financial information. Those numbers are just like handing the
scammer cash.
Trust your instinct. If something doesn’t sound right, it probably isn’t. Hang up and call the
Edina Police Department to report the scam.
If you receive a call from 952-826-1600 and someone claiming to be from the Edina Police Department,
call Edina Dispatch at 952-826-1600 to make sure the call was legitimate. Dispatch will know if someone
from the Police Department contacted you recently.
If you are a victim of a scam, contact the Edina Police Department, 952-826-1600, to report the crime.
For more information on how to protect yourself, visit www.EdinaMN.gov/Police or call 952-826-1610.