Phone Scam Targets Farmington Residents

A phone scam is making Farmington police do something they hate doing — tell people not to trust a call that looks like it came from the police. The issue is caller-ID spoofing. Scammers are making calls appear to come from Farmington Police Department’s non-emergency number, then pretending to be officers investigating identity theft or financial crimes. The town posted the warning on May 6, and the basic message was blunt: these calls are fake, and you should hang up. ### What exactly is happening? The scam is pretty simple. A caller claims to be with Farmington police, says there’s some kind of identity-theft or fraud problem, and then tries to pull personal or financial information out of the person who answers. The trick is that the incoming call can show the department’s actual non-emergency number, 860-675-2400, which makes the story feel real for a few seconds. (farmington-ct.org) ### Why does the caller ID look real? Because caller ID is easy to fake. That’s the whole scam. The FTC has warned about this exact pattern — scammers impersonating local law enforcement by making a call look like it came from a real police department, then pushing for money or information. So the number on your screen is not proof of who is actually calling. (farmington-ct.org) ### Who is being targeted? Turns out this may not even be limited to Farmington residents. The town’s warning said the department had gotten reports that people in Maryland were receiving the spoofed calls. That detail matters because it shows the scammers are not working from a neat local list. They can throw a much wider net and still borrow Farmington’s name and number. ### What would real police not do? (consumer.ftc.gov) Farmington police said officers will not make unsolicited calls asking for personal identifying information. That’s the cleanest rule here. If someone calls out of the blue and wants your Social Security number, bank details, payment, or other sensitive information, treat the call as hostile — even if the screen says “Farmington Police.” ### So what should you do in the moment? (farmington-ct.org) Hang up. Don’t argue. Don’t answer follow-up questions. Don’t use any callback number the caller gives you. If you think there might be a real issue, look up the department’s contact information yourself and call back through an official number. Farmington lists 860-675-2400 for routine assistance, and 911 remains for emergencies. ### What if you already engaged? (farmington-ct.org) If you gave up money or sensitive information, move fast. Contact your bank or card issuer, change exposed passwords, and watch for identity-theft signs. The FTC’s law-enforcement impersonation guidance points people to its scam-reporting tools, and Farmington police are also asking the public to contact them about suspicious calls tied to this scheme. (farmington-ct.org) ### Why does this keep working? Because the scam borrows authority. A police department name, a real town number, and a scary story about fraud can short-circuit people’s skepticism. Basically, the caller wants you anxious before you start thinking. Once that happens, handing over a date of birth, account detail, or payment can feel like “cooperating” instead of getting conned. (consumer.ftc.gov) ### Bottom line? The useful rule is simple: trust the number less than the behavior. If the caller pressures you for personal or financial information, hang up and verify independently. In this scam, the screen can lie. (farmington-ct.org)