SALT LAKE CITY – Police are warning people to be wary of a new scam that allegedly involves suspects pretending to be police officers.
Salt Lake City Police Department officials said the names of their officers are being used to solicit money from victims, as alleged scammers are calling and telling people they owe money for a pending traffic ticket or citation.
Police officials said a real police officer will never call to collect money, as collection is something handled by the courts.
Det. Dennis McGowan of the Salt Lake City Police Department described the scam.
“So, somehow, these people get the police officer’s name, they get the fact that these victims are already vulnerable because they have some pending issue that they have to take care of, and these scammers are using those people, victimizing them for money,” he said.
Police said anyone who receives such a call should hang up immediately and then call law enforcement officials.
