Scammer "Spoofed" LBPD Phone Number Before Calling Lititz Resident

LITITZ BOROUGH - On 12/03/2021 around 5:01 PM, the LBPD received a report from a resident who lives on North New Street that they received a phone call and the caller ID purported to be the phone number of the LBPD. When the resident answered the call, a male on the other line who spoke broken English identified himself as being from the "Drug and Alcohol Administration," not the LBPD. The caller informed the resident they had charges filed against them. The resident immediately got suspicious and ended the call and did not give the caller the opportunity to further the goal of the scam.

The LBPD is reminding community members that it is possible to "spoof" a phone number and make it appear to be from a local number, the LBPD in this instance. One way to tell if a call is a scam is the likely request for money or payment in non-traditional form like gift cards that often ultimately arise from the phone call. Anyone receiving a call of this nature should exercise caution and when in doubt, end the phone call immediately without providing any personal or banking information. The LBPD will never call anyone by phone and request money be paid for anything.

Residents who have a concern about a phone call received can initiate a call to the LBPD directly, or Lancaster County-Wide Communications (LCWC911) non-emergency phone number at 717-664-1180 to verify the legitimacy of a call from the LBPD.

Media contact: Media@LititzPD.org.

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