Valparaiso, IN – Residents in Porter County are being warned about a phone scam involving callers posing as law enforcement officers. Authorities say the scheme has surfaced in recent days, with scammers using fake caller ID information to make it appear as if the call is coming from a police department or other government agency.
According to the Porter County Sheriff’s Office, the callers falsely claim to be officers and attempt to trick people into providing sensitive information or paying bogus fines. The department emphasized that no legitimate officer would ever demand Social Security numbers, bank account details, or payment over the phone to avoid an arrest.
Sheriff’s officials urge anyone who receives such a call to hang up immediately and verify the information by dialing 219-477-3170. If the call claims to be from another agency, residents are advised to contact that agency directly to confirm the caller’s identity.
The department also warned that scammers may request victims to pay bond or monitoring fees at unusual locations, such as gas stations or mall parking lots — another red flag of fraud.
Authorities are encouraging residents to remain cautious and share the warning with family, friends, and neighbors, especially seniors, who are often targeted in these types of scams.
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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