The Atlanta Police Department is aware of someone using several APD and 311 numbers to make threatening phone calls to citizens and demanding money to clear citations. APD will not call you soliciting money to clear an outstanding warrant or parking ticket. This tactic is commonly known as phone spoofing and it occurs when a scammer makes a false number appear on your caller ID, in an attempt to impersonate someone else.

Tips to prevent becoming a victim of phone spoofing:  

• Do not answer calls from unknown numbers or press any buttons to unsubscribe from these calls.
• Never share personal information such as account numbers, social security numbers, or other identifying information with an unknown caller.
• Verify that the number calling is authentic when someone claims to represent a business or government agency. Hang up and call the number on your account statement or look up the correct number on the company’s website.
• Research call blocking tools through your phone company or mobile phone applications.

If you receive a call from someone claiming to represent the Atlanta Police Department, but the number does not appear to be authentic, hang up the phone immediately and dial 9-1-1 to report the incident.

For more information on phone spoofing, visit the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Caller ID Spoofing website (link below).

Phone Spoofing PSA-YouTube Video

FCC Caller ID Spoofing