Over the last week, the Lafayette Police Department has received two reports of a phone scam in our city. In both instances, the suspect that placed the call identified themselves as being in law enforcement. In the first incident, the caller stated they were from the Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Department, and in the second, the caller told the victim they were from the Lafayette Police Department. In both occasions, the victims were told they had missed jury duty and warrants had been issued for their arrest. They were instructed to purchase pre-paid credit cards to cover their bail money.
These phone calls did not originate from either police agency. It should also be noted that calls of this nature will never come from law enforcement in this county. We will never ask for money over the phone or any other financial information.
If you receive a phone call of this nature, please hang up and do not do what they ask. If you have questions as to the validity of what the caller is saying, please hang up and call that police agency from where the caller claimed. It is better to be safe than sorry.
Lt. Gossard
Community Outreach and Crime Prevention