LAKEPORT – Local police are urging area residents to be on the lookout for scam phone calls.

Lt. Brad Rasmussen of Lakeport Police reported Thursday that there have been two separate reports to police in the last week regarding scams.

Rasmussen said one of the scammers claimed to be a member of the Lakeport Police Department.

He reported that a resident received a call from someone claiming to be from the Police Activities League – which Rasmussen said is a real organization. The caller said he was from Lakeport Police and asked the resident to leave a check on their doorstep for pickup.

“We don't do that,” said Rasmussen.

Police also are concerned that the scam may be locally based, since the caller offered to pick up the check.

Another scam reported Wednesday involved a caller who told an area resident that the bank had made a mistake and given them some of the resident's money, said Rasmussen. The caller then asked for their bank account number, claiming they needed the number in order to return the money.

“A lot of times people will trust them,” Rasmussen said of the scammers.

The best thing to do when getting such calls, said Rasmussen, is to tell the caller no, give no personal information and no money.

He urged people with questions or concerns about such calls to let the police know.

“We'd like people to report it to us,” said Rasmussen.

Rasmussen said it's not uncommon to get reports of several of these types of phone scams over the course of a year, but it's unusual to get two such reports in a week.

For questions or to report a scam in Lakeport, call Lakeport Police, 263-5491.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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