Residents are being urged to stay alert after both the Centerville Police Department and the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office posted recent scam warnings involving suspicious phone calls.
The Centerville Police Department said it has been notified that residents have been receiving phone calls asking for donations. According to the department, the callers claim the money is for the police department.
Centerville police said those calls are a scam and stressed that the department does not call individuals to ask for donations. Officials are warning residents not to provide any personal or financial information to the callers.
The Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office also reported receiving complaints from local businesses about suspicious calls from an unknown number. In those cases, the caller allegedly identified themselves as an employee of the sheriff’s office and then asked for the person’s name and personal phone number.
The sheriff’s office is reminding the public to use caution anytime someone calls claiming to be a law enforcement officer. Officials say residents and business owners should never give out personal information over the phone or online unless they are certain of who they are dealing with.
Both agencies are encouraging the public to remain cautious and to report suspicious activity to law enforcement.
