Neosho Police Department warns public of phone number spoofing scam
The Neosho Police Department wants residents to be aware that caller ID should not be considered proof that a caller is legitimate.
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Neosho, MO. — The Neosho Police Department is warning residents about a phone scam in which individuals are “spoofing” the department’s phone number, (417) 451-8012, and falsely representing themselves as members of the Neosho Police Department.
Phone number spoofing allows scammers to manipulate caller ID so that an incoming call appears to be coming from a legitimate phone number. In this case, residents may see the Neosho Police Department’s actual phone number displayed on their caller ID even though the call did not originate from the department.
In at least one recent case, a citizen who had previously been the victim of a financial scam was contacted by an individual claiming to be associated with law enforcement. The caller attempted to obtain additional personal information while making it appear that the call was coming from the Neosho Police Department.
The Neosho Police Department wants residents to be aware that caller ID should not be considered proof that a caller is legitimate.
Residents are encouraged to remember the following: The Neosho Police Department will not call and demand personal financial information, banking information, passwords, gift card numbers or cryptocurrency transactions.
Never provide sensitive personal or financial information to an unsolicited caller.
If you receive a suspicious call from someone claiming to represent the Neosho Police Department, hang up and call the department directly at (417) 451-8012 to verify the call.
Residents may call Neosho City Hall at (417) 451-8050 and ask to be transferred to the Police Department.
Never use a phone number provided by a suspicious caller. Independently call a number you know to be legitimate.
If you believe you have been targeted by this scam or have provided personal or financial information to a suspicious caller, contact the Neosho Police Department.
The Neosho Police Department encourage residents to share this information with family members, friends and neighbors, and others who may be targeted by financial scams.
