On 03-19-22 the City of Carbondale police officers received several reports of a scam. Officers learned the victims received calls from a person claiming to be a Sergeant from the Carbondale Police Department and told them that they were in some type of legal trouble. The victims were instructed by the suspect that they were required to immediately make an online payment in order to resolve the legal issue. The name provided by the scammer was that of an actual retired Carbondale Police Sergeant. If anyone receives a similar call, immediately hang up, then call the Carbondale Police Department at 618-457-3200. Never simply “call back” the number the scammer provides, as it will not lead to an actual police department. The Carbondale Police Department does not call anyone and request money over the phone. Please share this information to help reduce the potential of others becoming a victim of this scam. The investigation into this scam is active and ongoing.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the City of Carbondale Police Department at (618) 549-2121. You may also call the Carbondale/SIU Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at (618) 549-COPS (2677) or the Murphysboro/Jackson County anonymous tip line at (618) 687-COPS (2677). Anonymous tips may also be made by selecting the “Crime Stoppers” tab located on the main page of this website. Please help yourself, along with your county, its communities and the university campus by using these numbers if you witness, or have any information pertaining to, a crime. Cash rewards for information which leads to an arrest are also made anonymously. Remember, crime doesn’t pay, but Crime Stoppers does!