By ZEINAB NAJM
Sunday Times Newspapers
TAYLOR — Michigan State Police warned the public about receiving spoof phone calls with telephone numbers of the MSP Metro South and Metro North posts.
The callers say they are from the MSP and are conducting an investigation or begin to ask for money to avoid arrest or other legal trouble, according to a news release from MSP.
MSP said that although someone from the agency may contact people via telephone regarding an investigation, warrant, or other official business, they will always identify themselves by their rank and name. They will also provide a badge number upon request.
While the MSP may advise a resident over the phone about a warrant for their arrest and a bond amount, they will never ask to send to money to them, the release said.
All bond payments take place in person with a uniformed member at the post, on the road, or with court personnel at the applicable court. Payment will never be asked to be sent in the form of gift cards or through a third-party money transfer service including, but not limited to, PayPal, Venmo, Western Union, MoneyGram, Google Pay, Apple Pay, and Cash App.
The public is asked to notify either one MSP of the posts if a phone call that appears to be from the MSP is asking for money to be sent, personal information such as a Social Security number, or otherwise appears suspicious. The Metro South Post phone number is 734-287-5000; the Metro North Post phone number is 248-584-5740.