We just received information from an Amarillo citizen about someone posing as an Amarillo Police Sergeant and asking her to call them back about a civil matter.
In the message that was left by the SCAMMER, they gave the name of one of our patrol Sergeants and the number they called from come back to Greenville SC Police department fax machine.
This citizen did what we want everyone to do. She looked up the number to the Amarillo Police and called to verify. She talked to the Sergeant who confirmed he did not call her, and she gave us this screenshot to share.
PLEASE don't just automatically believe them when they say they are someone official. SCAMMERS will try anything including threatening you. If it really is the police, then when you look up the number and call us back, we will tell you and we will tell you what you need to do next.
How to avoid scams-
1. DO NOT ANSWER ANY NUMBER YOU DO NOT RECOGNIZE-LET IT GO TO VOICEMAIL.
2. VERIFY INDEPENDENTLY FROM THE INFORMATION THE PERSON ON THE PHONE GIVES YOU.
3. DISCONNECT AND ASK SOMEONE YOU TRUST.
4. TRUST YOUR GUT. 99PERCENT OF THE TIME, CITIZENS KNOW THEY ARE BEING SCAMMED BUT THEY IGNORE THEIR INSTINCTS.
5. IF YOU AREN'T SURE AFTER ALL OF THESE OTHER TIPS, CALL THE AMARILLO POLICE DEPARTMENT PIO OFFICE AT 806-378-4257. WE CAN HELP.
6. CHECK THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU SCAM TRACKER FOR A LIST OF SCAMS IN OUR AREA TOO. https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker
