Benton police warn public of phone scam

Benton police are reminding citizens to be cautious after a person was scammed recently out of hundreds of dollars by someone impersonating a police officer over the phone.

According to a statement from the Benton Police Department, the impersonator told the victim that he or she had missed jury duty and a warrant had been issued for their arrest. The caller then requested the victim's credit card information over the phone to "take care of it," police said. The victim ended up losing "several hundred dollars."

Police said that while similar scam reports have surfaced around the state, it's the first case reported in Benton.

"One thing to keep in mind if you receive a call like this one is we will never demand payment from you over the phone," Benton police said in the statement. "We will also never ask to meet you somewhere out of the way to make payments or be served with a warrant."

Citizens are urged to call their local police department if they're concerned about the legitimacy of an officer's identity. Benton residents may call (501) 778-1171.

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