Naples police warn about officer impersonation scams.

Scammers are utilizing increasingly sophisticated strategies to deceive consumers, including new accusations of an ongoing spoofing fraud aimed at Naples residents.

Victims of the scam have reported receiving phony calls claiming to have the phone number of the Naples Police Department shown on the incoming caller ID, according to Lieutenant Bryan McGinn of the department. The con artists even went so far as to use the names of real police officers to pass for themselves when making the calls, according to a recent article by Alexa Velez of NBC2.

The victims were being threatened with arrest if they didn’t pay up, and they were being urged to pay with gift cards or bitcoin to settle any outstanding fines, missing court dates, or warrants.

Police in Naples made it clear that they would never ask for money over the phone, certainly not in gift cards or cryptocurrency. They advise anybody who receives questionable calls to get in touch with the department immediately to confirm the legitimacy of the call.

Lt. McGinn promised not to call you to collect money. “If you are given a citation, it’s paid through various means and it’s usually through the Collier County Clerk of Courts.”

The NPD is advising locals to be on the lookout for suspicious calls and to proceed with caution in light of these concerning reports. They suggest that people pause to evaluate the circumstances, confirm the caller’s identification, and get in touch with the police if they have any questions.

This article originally appeared on NBC2