Message from Newport Beach PD Alerts
Today, we were notified by some of our community members that they received calls from an individual impersonating a Newport Beach Police Department employee. The caller used the residents’ names to sound more convincing and claimed they needed to discuss some paperwork. Residents who contacted us directly were able to confirm that these calls did not originate from our department. Please note that 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.
When 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're not. They can be convincing: sometimes manipulating Caller ID, using information from social media, or hacking into email accounts, to make it seem more real. They’ll pressure you 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:
- 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. If the caller refuses to provide this information, terminate the call immediately.
- Keep your information and money safe. Never send money or give out personal identifying information, such as your social security number, bank account or credit card account numbers, to anyone you do not know.
- 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 haven't already.