Lexington Police warning citizens of a phone scam

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – According to the Lexington Police Department several citizens were contacted by a man saying he was a sergeant with the Lexington Police Department.

Officials said when the man called he stated that a family member had been involved in a traffic accident and that they would need to send money.

Police said the caller identified himself as Sergeant Christopher Wallace.

Police said “Sgt. Wallace” told the caller that their daughter was in a traffic collision on I-64 while talking on her cell phone. They were told that she was transported to the hospital where she received stitches in her mouth and was she unable to talk.

The scammer then said that because she was talking on a cell phone while driving, the daughter was going to be taken to jail for a charge of “Reckless Endangerment,” unless a fine of $1,400.00 was paid within 20 minutes.

Officials said the suspect provided a local bank location for them to transfer money into. They were told to call back when they arrived at the bank with the money. Once detectives called back, they were advised that one of the people in the collision had died and that the charge was now going to be involuntarily manslaughter. Money would now need to be transferred via Western Union (Money in Minutes) to an attorney in New York.

The two victims who reported the scam did not send money.

According to police the number had an 866 area code. The Lexington Police Department will never contact anyone via telephone and ask that money.

The case is still under investigation.