New Michigan State Police phone scam
Reports of a new scam involving callers posing as members of the Michigan State Police have raised some concerns in Sault Ste. Marie.
Citizens are receiving calls from anonymous individuals claiming to be members of local law enforcement. During these episodes, callers say there is a warrant out for your arrest and the only way to avoid it is by paying a fine.
The real Michigan State Police are warning residents that law enforcement will never call to notify you of a warrant, or to ask for money or bank account information. Most scams involve obtaining a victim’s personal information under false pretenses. The scammer usually portrays a sense of urgency, pretending to be an official of a legitimate organization to fool a victim into providing personal information or money.
To avoid becoming a victim of a scam:
- Do not give personal information to unknown callers
- Do not respond to unsolicited e-mails from unknown senders
- Confirm the identity of a contact by independently speaking with the identified source (such as your bank, credit card company, government agency, etc.)
- Ask for a call-back name and number, then use a reliable source to confirm the contact’s phone number or e-mail
- Report any suspicious contacts to police
For additional information you can contact the Sault Ste. Marie Post of the Michigan State Police at 800-793-1893 or 906-632-2217.