Charlotte Police Warn of Rise in Scam Calls Using Real Officer Names, Faked Numbers

Police in Charlotte have spotted a sharp rise in fake calls. Scammers now steal real officer names and mask their numbers to look like police calls.

These con artists claim their targets must pay up fast to dodge jail time. A CMPD alert from Sept. 17 shows they push for quick cash through Bitcoin, Cash App, gift cards, or wire transfers. They use fear to rush victims into bad choices.

"We will never request or accept bitcoin, Cash App, gift cards, wire transfers, etc. ... as a form of payment," stated CMPD officials in their public notice, per QC News.com. They stressed two key points: warrant issues don't happen by phone, and no officer can drop charges for money.

Through tech tricks, these fraudsters now copy police phone numbers. When their calls pop up on screens, the fake numbers match real CMPD lines. This smart move tricks more people into picking up.

The bad actors fish for both cash and private info in their calls. CMPD made it clear: they won't ever ring you asking for payment details or personal facts.

Got a weird call? CMPD says to cut it short. Just hang up. Then dial 311, the non-emergency line, to check if it's real.

These phone tricks match old scam patterns where crooks act like officials. They bank on fear, the gut punch of possible arrest, to make targets hand over money without thinking twice.

As part of their push to shield the public, CMPD tracks these scams closely. They keep tabs on new tricks while teaching folks how to spot fakes.