Gift card phone scammers posing as police detectives target San Mateo residents

Scammers posing as police detectives have recently been calling residents and asking for gift cards, police said this week.

The caller’s phone number may appear legitimate, but authorities said it’s a scam and advise residents to hang up and block the number. The call can also be reported to the Federal Trade Commission at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/.

Legitimate calls from the San Mateo Police Department will generally display as “unknown” since the department’s lines are blocked. Police will never ask for money, gift cards or personal information over the phone.

When police call, it’s generally to inform or ask residents to take action for their safety.

Anytime a resident is unsure who is calling, they can call the police dispatch number at (650) 522-7700.

More information is available on the city’s scam alert webpage and through the Federal Trade Commission phone scam webpage.