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CONTACT 13: Man target of police phone scam

Posted at 11:51 PM, Feb 24, 2017
and last updated 2018-11-21 17:46:02-05

A valley man is the target of an old scam but with a twist.

Bruce says it all started with a phone call that appeared to be from Las Vegas police.

"He says I'm Metro, I'm a Metro police officer on the scene of an accident," Bruce says.

Bruce was evidently the emergency contact for a victim in critical condition. The officer apparently wanted Bruce to provide his full name and address.

But Bruce refused.

"He says, if you don't help me now, this person is going to die. It's going to be your fault," Bruce says.

He then asked the officer if he could call him back. But that's when he got hung up on.

Bruce tried calling back the number on his caller ID. But there was no answer and he wasn't able to leave a message.

Rhonda Mettler with the Better Business Bureau says scammers are trying to squeeze information out of people before they have time to think.

"They spoof numbers all the time," she says.

Before giving them anything, the BBB says call and verify what the caller is telling you.

Also, remember be suspicious of any caller that gets mean or abusive over the phone, especially when they claim to be a civil servant or customer service rep.

Las Vegas police told Contact 13 they're investigating the incident and cannot comment on an open investigation.

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