Palm Bay warns residents against 'spoof' calls

PALM BAY, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - Palm Bay Police are warning residents not to give personal or financial information to callers soliciting them from a phone number that appears to be from the City's Utilities Department.

"The city of Palm Bay will never call you to soliciting any kind of funds, for any circumstances," said Lt Mike Bandish of the Palm Bay Police Department.

Lt. Bandish says a resident notified city hall about a phone call he received last week that displayed "City of Palm Bay" in the caller ID, and the phone number 321-409-7101. Police say the number is legitimate, but it's highly likely the number was "spoofed" onto the caller ID with one of a number of software programs that can mimic calls from legitimate phone numbers.

"They are basically disguising their number to show any number," said Bandish. "They can show a TV station, show a police department, or a bona fide charity."

Lt. Bandish says the city's phone system was not compromised. Since there's no record of who actually called, he says it's nearly impossible to catch the person who did it.

The Federal Communications Commission website warns phone number "spoofing" can be used to illegally obtain information, as well as legally attempt to sell a product or service. The website advises against giving out personal information to any caller that appears authentic, and instead telling the calling party you will contact their officially listed phone number instead.