The Elkhart Police Department has received reports that scammers are contacting citizens, claiming to be from the Police Department. The scammers are using an application that “Mirrors” their phone number.

Mirroring is where the caller hides the phone number they are calling from by displaying a false number to the person they are calling. The scammers phone number shows up as the non-emergency phone number of the
Police Department.

Elkhart Police are reminding people that the department would never ask for money over the phone for anything. Arrest warrants would never be dismissed by paying over the phone. Anybody who is contacted by the Police Department should verify the officers name and badge number. Anybody in doubt after that should contact the Police Department to verify.

This is a variant of a common scam used over the telephone. With Tax season coming up, keep in mind the Internal Revenue Service will not ask for payment over the phone. Never give payment information, credit/debit card information, or account numbers over the phone.

Government agencies will not take payment over the phone. If you are in need of making a payment over the phone to a non-government
organization, please verify that you are actually speaking to the correct organization before giving any information.

Anybody with any information regarding this crime or any other crime is asked to contact the Elkhart Police Department at 574-295-7070 or
Michiana Crime Stoppers 574-288-STOP, 800-342-STOP or visit www.michianacrimestoppers.com.