The Bartlesville Police Department issued a warning to the community about an ongoing phone scam targeting local residents.
According to the BPD, the callers claim to be with the BPD and falsely inform the potential victim that they have missed a court date and must pay a fine to avoid further legal action. The perpetrators use various tactics to appear convincing, including using caller ID spoofing to display the police department’s non-emergency phone number.
“We want to ensure our community is aware of this scam and takes the necessary precautions to protect themselves,” said BPD Chief Kevin Ickleberry. “Our department will never request personal information or payment over the phone.”
What to Do:
- Do not provide personal information: Never give out personal information over the phone to unsolicited callers. This includes Social Security numbers, bank account details or credit card information.
- Do not make payments: The Bartlesville Police Department will never request payment over the phone for fines, missed court dates or any other legal matters.
- Verify the caller: If you receive a call from someone claiming to be a law enforcement officer, hang up and call the Bartlesville Police Department directly at 918.338.4001 to verify the legitimacy of the call.
- Report the scam: If you believe you have been targeted by this scam, report it to the Bartlesville Police Department at 918.338.4001.
For more information or if you have any concerns, contact the Bartlesville Police Department at 918.338.4001.