The Troy Police Department is warning residents of a new phone scam involving a caller impersonating a police officer.

Police are urging Pike County residents to call in and report if they have received phone calls from an individual identifying himself as Sgt. David Parker with Troy Police Department.

Lt. Bryan Weed, public information officer with Troy Police, said several residents from around the county had called to report receiving calls from “a Sgt. David Parker claiming to be with Troy Police Department.” Parker is also claiming the 334-301-8506 is a number associated with Troy Police.

“When you call that number, it says Troy Police Department at 300 Elm Street, and due to high call volume he can’t answer the phone right now,” Weed said. “There is no David Parker that works here. He is not associated with the Troy Police Department and the number is not associated with the Troy Police Department.”

Weed said the department was currently investigating the calls, but wanted to give the public notice of the scam.

“We haven’t talked to anybody that’s actually spoken with him,” Weed said. “He leaves his number and when you call that number it’s an answering machine.”

Weed said those receiving calls or calling the number back should be aware of the scam and that the police department does not have an answering machine.

“That alone should tell you it’s scam, because we don’t have an answering machine,” Weed said. “We always answer the phone. We just want to get the name and number out and let people know that it’s not a person here or a number that works here. It’s a scam, and to not respond to it.”

Weed said the department had called the number and received the same answering machine and said the department had several ideas of what the caller’s angle is.

“We think it’s going to be something like the grandparent scam,” Weed said. “The one person we talked to said he knew their address and everything so we’re afraid it’ll be one where it says your grandson or son is in jail and you need to make his bond. We’ve seen that in the past, and we’ve reported on it before where they try to get people to give credit card numbers to pay for bond and warrants.”

Weed said several people called the department on Thursday to report the suspicious calls.

“Right now, it’s been three or four,” Weed said. “They’re just calling and asking if there is a Sgt. Parker. We’re telling them no there isn’t and they’re telling us the story.”

Weed has asked anyone receiving the calls to contact Troy Police.

“We ask that anybody who has information to please contact us at 566-0500 or on our secret witness line at 566-5555.” Weed said. “Or, they could call Crime Stoppers at 215-STOP (7867).”