Farmington Police Warn Residents of Phone Scam Impersonating Officers

Farmington, Mo. (KFMO) - The Farmington Police Department is alerting residents to a phone scam in which callers are impersonating local police officers in an attempt to obtain money and personal information.

According to the department, scammers are contacting citizens by phone and falsely identifying themselves as law enforcement officers. The callers may claim the victim has missed jury duty, has an outstanding warrant, owes fines, or must make an immediate payment to avoid arrest.

Police say these scams often rely on intimidation and urgency to pressure victims into acting quickly without verifying the information.

The Farmington Police Department reminds residents that officers will never demand payment over the phone. The department also emphasized that legitimate law enforcement agencies do not request payments through gift cards, prepaid debit cards, cryptocurrency, or electronic payment applications.

Residents are encouraged to be cautious when receiving unsolicited phone calls and should never provide personal, financial, or banking information to unknown callers.

Anyone who receives a suspicious call and is uncertain about its legitimacy is encouraged to contact St. Francois County Central Dispatch at 573-431-3131 to verify the information before taking any action.

Police are reminding the public that taking a moment to verify a caller's identity can help prevent becoming a victim of fraud.