Scam phone call goes to wrong potential target

LAS CRUCES — Well, that’s one way to get rid of a scam call.

A scam artist identifying himself as a police officer reached a Las Cruces Police Department sergeant on Wednesday. When the sergeant asked the caller for his identity or call sign, the caller was unable to provide verifiable information. The call ended when the sergeant mentioned that he is an actual, sworn police officer.

Later the same day, Las Cruces police issued a news release warning residents of the scam telephone calls.

Police say the callers are trying to entice recipients to respond to the scene of a crash, or provide personal or financial information.

The sergeant who received the call reported the first call from a woman who appeared to be distraught and crying. The caller indicated she was just involved in a motor vehicle crash. The caller then hung up.

The sergeant then received a second telephone call from the same number. This time, a man indicated he was a police officer who was investigating a crash with a distraught woman. The man asked the sergeant to respond to the scene of the crash, but when questioned further hung up.

The caller ID indicated the phone number originated from an Alamogordo telephone.