The Geneva Police Department is warning residents of a scam in which the department’s phone number is being “spoofed,” making the calls appear legitimate.

In the scam, the caller pretends to be a Geneva Police officer and tells people that a package containing drugs has been intercepted, a warrant for their arrest has been issued, and they may be victims of identity theft. The caller then requests financial information to resolve the matter.

Geneva Police received reports of 11 such calls Jan. 8 after recipients contacted the department to verify the scam calls. When recipients questioned the caller, they were threatened with yelling and profanity. People reporting the phone scam are current or former residents with 630 area codes.

The Geneva Police Department does not make unsolicited phone calls demanding financial information. Geneva Police officers also do not threaten people to gain cooperation during an investigation. These calls are a scam, and residents should not provide any confidential information.

Geneva Police remind the community to remain alert to phone scams that may appear or sound convincing. As a general rule, residents should not provide financial or personal information over the phone, especially during unsolicited calls.

Geneva residents who question the legitimacy of a call claiming to be from police should contact the Geneva Police Department directly at 630-232-4736 for verification.

Anyone falling victim to a scam should report it to their local law enforcement agency. Victims can also file online reports with the Federal Trade Commission or the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.