MERIDIAN, ID – The Idaho State Police (ISP) is cautioning the public about a wave of fraudulent calls in which scammers are disguising their phone numbers to appear as though they are coming from ISP dispatch centers.
Over the past several days, ISP has received multiple reports of suspicious calls. In one troubling case, a parent was contacted by someone claiming to be a medic, who implied their child was in distress. The caller asked for the child’s name while sounds of crying were heard in the background. Authorities later confirmed the child was safe at school, but ISP says the incident illustrates the manipulative tactics used by scammers.
“These calls are not coming from the Idaho State Police,” said Captain Tyler Jussel of the ISP Regional Communications Center. “This scam is designed to play on the hearts of potential victims and undermines trust in first responders. By spoofing first responders and dispatch centers, these scammers try to gain credibility in their deception. We want the public to know that ISP will never call in this manner.”
Authorities urge residents to take the following precautions:
- Do not share personal details such as names, addresses, or account information unless you are certain of the caller’s identity.
- Hang up immediately if a call feels suspicious.
- Verify by calling the agency back directly using an official, publicly listed phone number.
ISP emphasized that scammers often rely on creating fear and urgency to trick people into acting quickly. Anyone who receives a suspicious call should hang up and report it to their local law enforcement agency, as well as the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
