The Mountain Home Police Department is alerting residents about a phone scam where callers are spoofing the department’s non-emergency number and falsely claiming to be police employees. The practice of spoofing allows scammers to manipulate caller ID so that a legitimate phone number appears.
According to the department, these fraudulent callers have been telling individuals they must make payments, often via gift cards, to avoid arrest. Officials have stressed that the Mountain Home Police Department will never contact residents to demand payment or gift cards under threat of arrest.
Police are urging residents not to provide personal, financial, or banking information during any suspicious calls. Additionally, they caution against relying solely on caller ID to confirm a call’s legitimacy. Instead, anyone receiving such a call should hang up immediately and contact the department’s non-emergency number directly at 870-425-6336 to verify the situation.
The department is asking the community to share this information, particularly with family members, friends, and neighbors who may be more vulnerable to scams. Residents with questions or concerns about these calls are encouraged to report them to local law enforcement.