Full Notification

The Janesville Police Department would like to remind the public of current phone scams. Phone scammers most often impersonate a government agency in an attempt to collect some form of money or gift card over the phone.  Scammers often pretend to be someone you trust, such as a government official, a family member, a charity, or a company you do business with. Caller ID spoofing is when a caller deliberately falsifies the information transmitted to your caller ID display to disguise their identify. Spoofing is often used as part of an attempt to trick someone into giving away personal information so it be used in fraudulent activity. Don’t send money or give out any personal information in response to an unexpected request whether it comes in as a text message, a phone call, or an email. Legitimate businesses provide employees with proper workplace identification. When speaking to people who you do not know, ask them for any type of business identification.
 
As a reminder, no law enforcement representative will call you to solicit any type of payments over the phone. Be cautious of scams involving police imposters or news of outstanding warrants that must be paid immediately over the phone. If you do not feel comfortable with the information being provided by someone on the phone claiming to be an officer, you can always tell them you will call them back and verify the information with the Rock County Dispatch Center at (608)757-2244.
 
Please share this information with family, friends, and neighbors. If you feel you have been a victim of a scam, or if you have suffered a financial loss as the result of a scam, you can contact the Janesville Police Department at (608)755-3100 or you can report the incident online at:
 
https://www.janesvillewi.gov/departments-services/police