NEEDHAM — Needham Police Department is alerting residents to a sophisticated phone scam where callers impersonate police officers using the department’s actual business line number, attempting to extort money by claiming the victims have outstanding warrants or unpaid citations.
Authorities have reported receiving at least a dozen calls from residents who have been targeted by this scam today.
The fraudulent callers are threatening residents with arrest for supposedly failing to show up for jury duty or having a gag order, and demanding payment to avoid being taken into custody.
In a statement, Needham Police emphasized that these calls are scams and assured residents that law enforcement officers would never request payment over the phone to clear a warrant or pay a citation.
The department is urging the community to share the warning, especially on local pages and social media platforms associated with Needham, to prevent others from falling victim to this scam.
Residents who receive such calls should not make any payments and are advised to hang up immediately and report the incident to the Needham Police Department.
