Scam Alert: Fake CMPD calls targeting Charlotte residents, police say

CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is warning the public about a recent spike in scam phone calls pretending to be from police officers, sometimes even using the names of real officers and spoofing official CMPD phone numbers.

In these fake calls, CMPD said scammers often claim you have a warrant or a legal issue and try to scare you into giving up personal information or sending money immediately.

Authorities said they may pressure you, threaten arrest, or demand unusual forms of payment like Bitcoin, Cash App, gift cards, or wire transfers.

CMPD said they will never call to demand payment or ask for personal information over the phone. They also do not accept any kind of payment to clear or reduce charges, and arrest warrants are never issued over the phone.

If you get a call like this and you’re not sure if it’s real, CMPD said to hang up and call their non-emergency line directly at 311 to confirm.