Calls claiming to be from the Topeka Police Department rightfully drew concern from the people who received them, Lt. Chuck Haggard said late Tuesday.
Several people reported to police an unknown caller, who claims to be a police officer following up on unpaid fines, demanded they be given bank account information, he said in a news release.
"The Topeka Police Department does not collect fines for the Topeka Municipal Court," Haggard said. "No one legitimately affiliated with the city of Topeka would ever call a person and demand account information over the phone."
The scam, commonly known as "phishing," involves a person cold-calling another in an attempt to get bank account or credit card information over the phone by claiming to represent a legitimate company or government agency. The scam also can happen through email.
Haggard advises people to never give out account or credit card information over the phone "no matter who they claim to be."