Bedford residents are on high alert as imposters claiming to be city employees are making scam calls with an alarming twist – they're spoofing the local police department's phone number. According to a recent post by the Bedford Police Department, these con artists are threatening residents with a phony warrant for their arrest in an attempt to pry out personal information.

The scammers have gone so far as, to disguise their calls using the police department’s non-emergency number, adding a sinister layer of authenticity to their ruse. "We’ve received several reports from residents who received a call from a person called them claiming to be a Bedford employee," says the Bedford Texas Police Department, a stark warning for the community.

In the face of this threat, authorities have issued guidance on how to counter these deceptive calls. Residents are advised to be skeptical of unsolicited calls and not to trust the names and numbers displayed. Crucially, they should refrain from sharing any financial or personal information. Documenting details about the call, such as the caller's number or name and what they demanded, is also recommended.

The Bedford Texas Police Department encourages anyone who receives such a call to report it by calling their non-emergency line. In doing their part, citizens can help prevent the spread of this scam by warning family and friends, according to the Bedford Texas Police Department.

For those looking for more information on how to protect themselves from phone scams, the department has pointed to resources available on consumer.ftc.gov. The website details a variety of scams and offers advice on reporting them, a valuable tool in the fight against these fraudulent schemes that continue to plague communities across the nation.