Mayfield police warn of phone scam targeting elderly

KBSI FOX23 News at 9 p.m.

MAYFIELD, Ky., (KBSI) – The Mayfield Police Department is warning residents about a phone scam in which callers pose as representatives of the Public Defender’s Office and claim to be contacting relatives on behalf of a family member.

According to investigators, the scammer tells victims their loved one cannot come to the phone because they are injured, hospitalized, or facing criminal charges. The caller then claims to be an attorney and requests money to cover bond or court fees.

Police said no prosecutor’s office or public defender’s office in the area would ever ask for such payments. The scam appears to be targeting elderly residents by exploiting fear and urgency.

Authorities advise anyone who receives such a call to verify the situation by directly contacting the relative in question or reaching out to other family members. Residents may also call the Mayfield Police Department for assistance.

“Be aware, be safe,” the department said in a statement.