The San Mateo Police Department is warning residents about scammers calling and pretending to be San Mateo police detectives and asking for gift cards.
“Hang up the phone and block the phone number,” police said. “You may also consider reporting this to the Federal Trade Commission.”
Sometimes, the caller’s phone number appears as a legitimate SMPD phone number, ie (650) 522-7700, or a variation of the last four digits. SMPD advises caution on answering such calls.
SMPD notes that phone calls from headquarters will generally display as “unknown,” since SMPD lines are blocked, and that SMPD would never ask for money, gift cards or personal information over the phone
“If you receive a call from us, we’re generally calling to inform you of something, ask you to take action for your safety, or are returning your call for service,” police said. “If you are unsure who is calling, hang up and contact SMPD Dispatch at (650) 522-7700.”
To learn more, visit SMPD’s Scam Alert web page here .
