LPD: Scammers use public accident reports to get personal information

Lincoln Police are warning citizens of a scam they’ve seen become more common. 

Officer Angela Sands said scammers are taking information from the department’s public accident reports and using it to convince victims they’re authority figures. 

A recent report of this came on January 3rd. Sands said a 44-year-old Lincoln woman told police she got a call from a man claiming to be a detective with the police department. 

Sands said the caller provided a real officer’s name and badge number and told the victim she didn’t show up for jury duty and needed to pay a fine or go to jail. 

The woman questioned the caller and asked him to send an officer to her home to discuss it. Sands said the caller told her it cost too much money to send an officer and she needed to pay over the phone. 

Sands said the victim hung up and called Lincoln Police dispatch to confirm it was a scam. 

“We have taken several similar reports and it appears scammers are getting the victim and officers information from public accident reports,” Sands said. “The scammers are using publicly available information and spoofing the call to trick victims.”

Sands said the department will never call demanding money. If you get a call like this hang up and call police at 402-441-6000.