Police warn of phone scam over false alarms

12/7/2002

Toledo police are warning residents of a scam in which someone calls residents and tells them that they will come to their residence to pick up their payments for false alarm violations.

An elderly Old West End resident came to the office this week to pay an old residential false alarm fine. She told the officer that a woman called her, talked to her about a false alarm violation, and said that if the victim didn't pay the $35 fine she could be arrested. The caller said she would come to the victim's house to pick up the payment.

The victim knew the information wasn't correct because she currently doesn't have an alarm and she was holding her old citation, which was for $25. When the victim contacted the alarm company, she learned it had received a similar call from another resident, Officer Sheila Cook said.

Police suggest residents get as much information as possible from the caller, including a phone number, and write down the day and time the call occurred. Residents may report the calls to Officer Cook at 419-936-2767.