HASTINGS, Neb. – The Hastings Police Department is asking residents to be wary of a phone scam involving a fake police officer.

In a news release, HPD says residents in the Tri-City area are receiving phone calls from people claiming to be law enforcement.

These callers are spoofing their numbers to look like it's coming from the Hastings Police Departments phone number, but it's not legit.

The caller is identifying as an officer with the Hastings Police Department and informing the recipient that they have a failure to appear warrant. The caller then asks for personal information, and requests a payment over the phone.

HPD says they will never call and ask you for payment of any kind, and warns people to never give out your personal information over the phone to an unknown or sketchy source.

If you receive a phone call from a law enforcement officer and wish to verify their identify, authorities recommend you ask what their name and badge number is, disconnect, and then call the HPD non-emergency number at (402) 461-2380, and ask a dispatcher to speak with them.