We are investigating several fraudulent phone calls (spoof calls) requesting social security numbers from residents. During the calls, the perpetrator has tried to convince the victims that there is a warrant for their arrest. They attempt to frighten victims by claiming that they have received multiple complaints associated with their social security number. If the victim questions the veracity of the call, the suspect has offered to have the local police call them to verify the claim. That is when a call is placed to the victim using a spoofed number that appears on caller ID to be coming from the Mansfield Township Police Department. In the latest case, the suspect conned the victim to make payment in cryptocurrency and gift cards.
The Mansfield Township Police will never call you requesting personal information like your social security number or your date of birth. We will never demand payment, let alone in cryptocurrency or gift cards.
If you receive a suspicious call, do the following:
- Do not provide any personal information.
- Hang up the phone.
- Immediately call police to report the incident.
The fraudulent calls are currently under investigation, but there is no further information available for release at this time.