Coppell police are sounding the alarm after a flurry of reports this week about con artists posing as the police chief or other officers and leaning on residents for cash. The department says the calls are flat-out fraudulent, and anyone who gets a call demanding money or personal information should treat it as a major red flag.
What the Coppell police are saying
In a Jan. 31 Facebook post, the Coppell Police Department reported multiple cases this week of callers pretending to be the chief or other officers and trying to strong-arm victims into paying large sums. The post also promotes a free fraud seminar on February 21, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at Cozby Library & Community Commons, where representatives from the Criminal Investigations Division will share tips to help residents spot these scams, according to the Coppell Police Department.
How to report and immediate steps
If a call feels off, police say do not argue or engage, just hang up and report it to the Coppell Police Department using the non-emergency number 469-289-3270 or by going to the Coppell Justice Center at 230 Veterans Way, according to the city’s reporting page. Fraud.org and other consumer groups note that impostors often push victims to pay with gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency, which are all classic scam payment methods and should prompt you to verify the claim on your own. If you think you have already lost money, police say to contact your bank immediately and file a local police report so investigators and your financial institution have an official record, per Coppell Police Department guidance.
Why the scams keep working
Scammers rely on spoofed caller IDs and high-pressure tactics to create a sense of urgency, which can push even cautious people into acting before they check whether the call is legitimate. Hoodline coverage shows this is not a new problem in the area; a Coppell-area fraud alert in 2024 highlighted similarly deceptive outreach.
Seminar details and who should attend
The upcoming free seminar is aimed at older residents and anyone else who wants straightforward, real-world advice for spotting scams. The department says a fraud detective from its Criminal Investigations Division will be on hand and that there will be time for questions. The event will be held at Cozby Library & Community Commons at 177 N Heartz Road, and the library’s site lists hours and contact details for anyone needing directions or more information, according to Cozby Library & Community Commons.
If you were targeted
Anyone who believes they were scammed should contact their bank right away to try to stop or reverse payments, file a police report with the Coppell Police Department, and submit a complaint to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3. Police are also asking anyone who has call recordings, phone numbers or other details about suspicious calls to share that information with the Coppell Police Department so investigators can track patterns and better protect the community.
