Police report a resident of the Lehigh Valley received a call from the Bethlehem Police Department non-emergency phone number (610-865-7187) Aug. 26 and were advised that a family member was in trouble and in need of money.

The resident was subsequently defrauded in an amount exceeding $11,000. This is a common fraud scheme in which the victim is convinced that a family member has been in an accident or arrested and needs money immediately to avoid serving time in jail. To lend credibility to their scheme, the suspect cloned BPD’s number 610-865-7187.

Similar fraud schemes are occurring in the Lehigh Valley and citizens are encouraged to remember the following tips to avoid phone scams:

- Block unwanted calls and text messages

- Don’t give your personal or financial information in response to a request that you didn’t expect.

- Resist the pressure to act immediately.

- Know how scammers tell you to pay.

- Stop and talk to someone you trust.