Scam artists continue to be creative in their attempts to catch unsuspecting residents off guard. Recently, community members have reported that they have received calls from someone claiming to be an employee with the Newport Beach Police Department. The caller claimed they had warrants and/or missed jury duty; the caller then asked them for payment over the phone. Residents who contacted the police directly were able to confirm that these calls did not come from our department. The Newport Beach Police Department will not contact you to request money and does not accept any kind of payment for legitimate services over the phone. Any payments for legitimate services are handled by our Front Desk who can be reached at 949-644-3681. 

Whenever you get a call from an unknown number, ask yourself... is the caller who you think it is? Scammers are good at pretending to be someone they are not. They can be convincing; they may manipulate Caller ID or use information from social media or hacked email accounts to make it seem more real. They will pressure you to act quickly or play on your emotions to get personal information or money from you.  

Here's what you can do when you get a call from someone you don’t know:

1. Stop. Check it out.  For calls from alleged government agencies or utility companies: Do not give out any personal or financial information until you have verified the identity of the caller.  Ask the caller for their name, department, business phone number and what they are requesting. Confirm that information by calling the organization directly at a phone number found on the internet or through official correspondence (billing statements, etc.).  If the caller refuses to provide this information, terminate the call immediately. 
2. Keep your information safe.  Never give out personal identifying information, such as your social security number, bank account or credit card account numbers, to anyone you do not know.
3. Pass this information on to a friend.  You may not have received one of these calls, but chances are that you know someone who will - if they have not already. Sharing these tips can help protect your loved ones from being the victim of a scam artist’s tricks.