Glastonbury police warn of calls posing as chief with spoofed PD number
Glastonbury, Connecticut police warn of calls from someone posing as Chief Marshall Porter, with caller ID spoofed to the department's real number 860-633-8301.
- First reported
- Reports
- 1
Source: wtnh.com · published
What happened
WTNH reported on 6 November 2026 that the Glastonbury Police Department in Connecticut is warning residents about scam phone calls from a person claiming to be Chief Marshall Porter. Police said the caller claims there is an urgent matter and provides a number for the recipient to call back. The initial calls appear on caller ID as 860-633-8301, which is the actual Glastonbury Police Department number. The chief's name and the department's number are being impersonated; the department is not involved in the calls.
How the scam works
The scheme combines two forms of impersonation. Caller ID spoofing makes the call look as though it comes from the real police department, and using the name of the actual police chief adds authority. Saying there is an urgent matter is designed to make the person worry about trouble with the law or a problem affecting a family member, so they call back quickly without checking.
The callback number is the key step. Because it is supplied by the caller rather than looked up by the resident, it can connect to the fraudsters directly, who may then ask for personal or banking information, passwords or verification codes, or demand money or gift cards to settle the supposed matter. Using a callback number also lets scammers move the conversation to a line they control while the original spoofed number keeps looking legitimate.
Police advised residents to hang up, not to call the number provided by the caller, and to verify any call by dialing the department using the number listed on the town website. They also reminded the public never to share personal or banking information, passwords or verification codes and never to send money or gift cards to someone who calls unexpectedly. People who have already shared details should contact their bank and report the call to Glastonbury police. This account is based on the department's warning as reported by WTNH.
Source
WTNH report, 6 November 2026: https://www.wtnh.com/news/connecticut/hartford/glastonbury-police-warn-of-scam-calls-posing-as-chief/
Red flags
- A call claiming to be from a police chief about an urgent matter.
- Caller ID showing a real police department number such as 860-633-8301.
- A request to call back on a different number supplied by the caller.
- Requests for banking details, passwords, verification codes, money or gift cards.
If you were targeted
- 1Hang up on unexpected calls claiming to be from police officials.
- 2Do not call back any number the caller gives you.
- 3Verify by calling the department on the number listed on the town website.
- 4Never share passwords, verification codes or banking details, or send money or gift cards.
- 5Report the call to Glastonbury police and contact your bank if you shared information.