A Southern California police department says scammers can fake a local number on your phone, so a caller who looks official may not be real.
A Southern California police department is warning residents that scam calls can show up looking like they come from the police. The trick is called caller ID spoofing. KTLA reported the warning on November 2, 2026.
Caller ID is the name or number that appears on your phone when it rings. Spoofing means a scammer fakes that information. The screen can show a local number, a familiar name or something that looks official, even though the call comes from somewhere else. A number that looks local or official does not prove who is really calling.
Anyone with a phone can get one of these calls. The risk is highest for people who naturally trust a call that seems to come from the police, a bank or a government office. Older relatives may be especially open to this kind of pressure.
The alert box above lists the steps. The main rule is simple: never share money or personal details on a call you did not start, no matter what your screen says.
The material available does not say which department issued the warning. It also does not say what story the scammers are telling, how many people have been called, or whether anyone has lost money. Those details were not provided, so none are guessed at here.
What is clear is the core lesson. Your screen can be made to show anything, so the safest move is to hang up and contact the agency yourself.
A familiar or official-looking number can be fake, so never give money or personal details on a call you did not start.
The Attala County Sheriff's Office in Mississippi says scam calls are reaching residents, and a call that sounds official may not be.
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