Police Warn Of Scammer Calls Using CMPD Officer Names

CHARLOTTE, NC — Charlotte police are warning the community of a scam threatening the arrest of their targets if money isn't paid.

The scam, which included the name of three officers employed by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department during a call using a spoofed telephone number that tricked caller ID to display a real police department phone number was so convincing that it's already claimed at least one victim, CMPD said.

"A group of fraudsters posing as Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) Officers called an unknowing victim over the phone and threatened to arrest the victim if money was not sent to them," CMPD said in a statement. "During the course of the phone conversation, the fraudsters identified themselves by the specific names of two CMPD command staff members, and one CMPD sergeant."

The victim sent money to the scammers but was later contacted their bank after the transaction was flagged as suspicious. The victim then contacted CMPD to report the incident.

The names of the three CMPD officers, along with the police department phone number are all publically available and there is no indication the officers are involved in the scam scheme, CMPD said.

"CMPD officers and employees will not solicit or demand money in conjunction with the discharging of their official duties," police said. "Anyone receiving such a phone call or interaction with someone presenting themselves as a CMPD employee and demanding money is asked to terminate the phone call and call 911 to make a report."

CMPD said it continues to investigate the incident and said that anyone with information about should contact Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.