The Lyndonville Police Department is warning residents about a phone scam in which a caller falsely claims to be a member of the department and attempts to trick victims into returning calls to another number.

According to police, on November 12, a town resident reported being contacted by someone who appeared to be calling from the department’s official number, 802-626-1271. The caller ID had been spoofed to display that number, but the individual on the line was not a police employee.

The impersonator reportedly told the resident that there were active warrants for their arrest and tried to convince them to call a different phone number.

Police said the department does not conduct fugitive investigations in this manner and will never inform individuals of warrants or wanted status over the phone.

Authorities are investigating the incident under the suspected violations of impersonation of a law enforcement officer and disturbing the peace via electronic communication.

The Lyndonville Police Department urges anyone receiving suspicious calls from someone claiming to be a police employee to hang up and report the incident to dispatch at 802-748-3111, extension 8.