Scammers Posing As Newport Police Make Sex Assault Warrant Claims

NEWPORT, RI — Scammers claiming to be Newport police officers have been calling residents with a ruse involving a sexual assault arrest warrant, the department warned.

The callers identify themselves as a Newport police detective, sergeant, lieutenant, constable or deputy, the department said in a media release, and use "actual names of our officers that may be familiar."

The callers claim they "they have 'legal documents' that need to be signed, according to the release.

"They often reference an incident involving a sexual assault case where a failure to appear warrant has been issued," the release said. "To cancel the warrant, they then instruct people to purchase a gift card or Bitcoin and provide the codes over the phone."

To make the con even more convincing, according to the release, the calls appear to be coming from an actual Newport Police Department phone number.

"These people are using a computer program called 'spoofing' to make their caller ID appear to be coming from the Newport Police Department," the release said. "One of the numbers they have spoofed is 401-847-1306. This number is listed online and does come back to the Newport Police Department."

The Newport police advised that no law enforcement or government agency would request personal information over the phone, much less ask that "someone purchase a gift card, Bitcoin or any other form of payment."

Additionally, the release said, the ranks of the Newport Police Department do not include constables or deputies.

Anyone receiving such a call was asked to call the Newport police at 401-847-1306.