Little Rock, AR – Contributed – The Arkansas State Police (ASP) is alerting the public to a recent scam in which callers falsely claim to be officers with the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.

Several Arkansas residents have reported receiving calls from individuals identifying themselves as “Officer Jackson” with ICAC and demanding a return call regarding an alleged investigation.

In some cases, the caller left callback numbers, and in at least one case, the caller threatened to issue a warrant if the individual did not respond. This is an intimidation tactic commonly used in fraudulent schemes.

These calls are not legitimate.

The Arkansas ICAC Task Force and ASP do not contact individuals to notify them that they are the subject of an investigation, nor do they request that citizens return calls regarding investigative matters. Law enforcement agencies do not issue threats of arrest over the phone or demand immediate compliance.

“These scammers are exploiting the public’s trust in law enforcement to intimidate and deceive. The Arkansas State Police will never call to announce an investigation or threaten arrest over the phone. We want Arkansans to stay vigilant, protect their personal information, and report suspicious calls immediately,” said Col. Mike Hagar, ASP Director.

ASP urges anyone who receives a call of this nature to take immediate action: hang up right away, do not provide personal information, and promptly report the incident to their local law-enforcement agency, the Arkansas State Police, or the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office at (501) 682-2007, or email oag@arkansasag.gov