Moline, IL – A scam involving spoofed police department phone numbers has targeted at least one elderly resident in Moline this week, prompting a public warning from local authorities.
According to the Moline Police Department, the attempted fraud involved a caller pretending to be Police Chief Darren Gault. The impersonator allegedly used the department’s actual phone number to appear credible and requested that the victim deposit money via a Bitcoin ATM.
Officials emphasized that the likelihood of Chief Gault—or any law enforcement officer—requesting payment over the phone is zero. In a statement shared on social media, Moline Police compared the probability of such a call to the chances of being bitten by a bull shark in Illinois: not zero, but exceptionally rare.
The scammer’s tactic included spoofing the caller ID to display a legitimate number associated with the police department. Law enforcement stressed that neither the Moline Police Department nor the Federal Trade Commission will ever contact individuals to request payments in cryptocurrency or via prepaid methods.
The Scott County Sheriff’s Office, which shares jurisdiction in the Quad Cities area, echoed the warning, reminding residents that deputies will never ask for payment over the phone under any circumstance.
Authorities urge residents who receive suspicious calls asking for money or personal financial information to hang up immediately and report the incident. Anyone with concerns or questions is encouraged to contact local law enforcement directly for verification.
Community members are reminded to stay vigilant and to inform friends and family—especially elderly individuals—about this ongoing scam trend.
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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