Scam Alert - CPD Warns of Scams that Impersonate Law Enforcement Officers

The Cambridge Police Department has received reports that scammers have been utilizing the name of our department and some of our officers in their attempts to defraud members of the public. These types of scams will typically involve a phone call where the scammer identifies themselves as a member of a police department, sometimes using the name of an actual officer working for that department. These scammers then make demands of the victim, often asking for personal information or for financial compensation to clear a non-existent arrest warrant or assist someone they falsely claim to be in distress.

Modern technologies have made scams more sophisticated, and scammers are constantly changing their techniques. In some cases they have been able to make it appear that the phone number they’re calling from is affiliated with a police department, when in fact it  not. It is important to note that members of the Cambridge Police Department, and other law enforcement agencies, should never ask for personal information over the phone. If an individual needs to share personal information as part of a case, officers will be available to meet in-person at the station or other location in the city. Law enforcement will also never ask for any sort of financial compensation, particularly in the form of Bitcoin or gift cards. Any financial penalties would be paid directly to the proper local, state, or federal agency, at no point would they be collected by the police department.

If you believe you have been victimized by this sort of scam we encourage you to notify your financial institutions and file a report with your local police department. For incidents that took place in Cambridge, reports can be filed at the front desk of the Cambridge Police Station located at 125 Sixth St., in the Central Sq. Reporting Station or by calling (617) 349-3300 to have an officer dispatched to meet you.