Incident Type: Telephone Scam
Incident Date: 10/28/2022
Release Date: 10/28/2022
Prepared By: Lt. Andrew McCarthy
Details:
The Fitchburg Police Department has received multiple reports of an ongoing phone scam occurring within our city. Scammers are targeting senior citizens by posing as an authority figure and claiming that their family members have been arrested and jailed. They then demand large sums of money to pay for a cash bond to secure their release.
The Fitchburg Police Department would like to remind everyone that neither a judge, lawyer nor member of law enforcement will contact you asking for bail money. The State of Wisconsin also does not utilize the practice of bail bondsmen. Avoiding these and similar scams begins with awareness and trusting your instincts. If a situation seems odd or “off”, the safest choice is to hang up the phone. If you have safety or welfare concerns, or believe a scam is involved, it is always best to report the call to your local police department.