Danville, IL – Danville residents are being urged to stay vigilant as local authorities report a rise in phone and online scams targeting the community. The Danville Police Department released a public alert today, warning that criminals are impersonating law enforcement, government agencies, and reputable businesses in an effort to steal money and personal information.
According to a statement from the Danville Police Department, scams reported this week include police impersonation calls, utility shutoff threats, fake package delivery notifications, and fraudulent tech support offers. Police say scammers are demanding payment through gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency—methods often used to avoid detection and recovery.
The alert lists several common tactics:
- Police Impersonation Calls: Victims are threatened with arrest unless they pay fines immediately.
- Utility Scam Calls: Scammers claim utilities will be disconnected without instant payment.
- Package Delivery Texts/Emails: Fraudulent messages appear to be from UPS, FedEx, or USPS with fake tracking links designed to harvest personal information.
- Tech Support Scams: Individuals are told their devices are compromised, prompting them to grant remote access or send payments.
- Grandparent Scams: Seniors receive urgent calls about a grandchild allegedly in trouble and needing money.
Police urge residents to protect themselves by never sharing personal or financial information over the phone unless they initiated the call. “Do not trust caller ID—scammers can spoof official numbers,” officials said. Residents are also advised to hang up and contact organizations using verified numbers and to avoid payments via gift cards or cryptocurrency.
If anyone believes they have been targeted or victimized, the Danville Police Department encourages reporting the incident immediately by calling (217)-431-2250. Additional resources can be found at the Illinois Attorney General’s Consumer Protection website.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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