PAW PAW, MI (WKZO-AM/FM) – Not even law enforcement is immune from being spoofed.
Michigan State Police officials said on Thursday that the Wayland Post and Fifth District Regional Dispatch received numerous calls on Wednesday from people who reported getting calls demanding money in order to avoid being arrested or to halt an investigation by troopers. Those people say that these calls were listed as coming from the Wayland Post’s phone number of 269-792-2213.
Lieutenant DuWayne Robinson at the state police regional headquarters in Paw Paw said in a statement;
“Although someone from our agency may contact you via telephone regarding an investigation, warrant, or other official business, we will always identify ourselves by our rank and name. We will also provide a badge number upon request. Additionally, while the MSP may advise a resident over the phone about a warrant for their arrest and a bond amount, we will never ask for you to send money. All bond payments take place in-person with a uniformed member at the post, on the road, or with court personnel at the applicable court. You will never be asked to send payment in the form of gift cards or a third-party money transfer service.”
Reports of such calls came from persons in Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Wexford and Oakland counties. Robinson added:
“If a caller is contacting you from what appears to be an MSP phone line and is either asking for money to be sent, personal information such as a social security number, or otherwise appears suspicious, please end the call, and notify your local MSP post.”
The investigation into this matter continues.
