Burbank Police Department: Phone Number Spoofing and What You Need to Know

The Burbank Police Department has recently become aware of "spoofing" calls claiming to be from BPD. The Burbank Police Department has issued the following warnings about scam calls using spoofed phone numbers that appear to be from the Burbank Police Department. 

What to be aware of:

- Scammers use caller ID spoofing to make it look like they are calling from BPD's official numbers, including non-emergency lines.

- The scam involves demands for payment, often using gift cards or money orders, to avoid arrest for supposed warrants or other charges.

- The Burbank Police Department emphasizes they will never call demanding payment for warrants or fines using these methods.

- Don't rely solely on caller ID to verify the legitimacy of a call, as it can be easily manipulated by scammers.

What to do if you receive a suspicious call: 

1. Hang up immediately if you suspect a call is a scam. 

2. Do not call the number back that appeared on your caller ID. 

3. To verify a call, contact the BPD directly using their official, published phone numbers, not a number provided by the suspicious caller. 

- The Burbank Police Department's non-emergency line is (818) 238-3000

- The business line and general information number is (818) 238-3333

4. Never provide personal information or financial details to unknown callers, especially if they are demanding immediate payment or threatening arrest.

In summary, be cautious of any phone call demanding money or threatening arrest, especially if the caller ID appears to be from the Burbank Police Department. Always verify the call's legitimacy by contacting the department directly through their official channels.