Scam calls claim to be from Madison police

Caller threatens potential arrest

MADISON, Wis. — More than 25 people have reported getting calls from someone claiming to be working for Madison police and threatening arrest if the call recipient doesn’t send money.

Police said the calls have come in recent days and come from a phone number that appears to be connected to the Madison Police Department. The caller is usually a man with a heavy foreign accent who says there’s a warrant for the person’s arrest. The caller tells the call recipient they can avoid arrest by getting preloaded money pack cards from a convenience store and using it to send funds to the caller.

Police ask anyone else who receives a call like this to report the call immediately to police. Financial information related to bank accounts or credit cards should never be given to any individual over the phone.

“Make sure you don’t give any kind of bank account information or credit card information over the phone,” said Howard Payne, with the Madison Police Department. “No. 2, know that the police department, we do not coordinate the payment of warrants over the phone in such a manner.”