The Newport Police Department is warning residents about a phone scam in which callers impersonate police officers using actual names from the department to deceive victims into purchasing gift cards or bitcoin.
According to a news release issued Saturday by Lt. Joseph C. Carroll, the department’s public information officer, scammers are identifying themselves as Newport police detectives, sergeants, lieutenants, constables or deputies. The callers claim to have “legal documents” that need to be signed and often reference incidents involving sexual assault cases where failure-to-appear warrants have been issued.
To cancel the fictitious warrants, the scammers instruct victims to purchase gift cards or bitcoin and provide the codes over the phone.
“At no time would the Newport Police Department, City of Newport or any other law enforcement or government agency request personal information over the phone or have someone purchase a gift card, bitcoin or any other form of payment,” Carroll stated in the release.
The scammers are using computer software called “spoofing” to make their caller ID appear to come from the Newport Police Department. One spoofed number is 401-847-1306, which is listed online and does belong to the police department.
Carroll noted that the Newport Police Department does not have deputies and does not employ constables, which should serve as red flags for potential victims.
Anyone who receives these calls should hang up immediately and report the incident by calling 401-847-1306, where a Newport police employee will take a report.
The warning comes as phone scams targeting elderly and vulnerable populations continue to proliferate nationwide, with scammers often impersonating law enforcement or government officials to create a sense of urgency and fear.
