Lower Saucon Police Warn of Possible Phone Scam

Lower Saucon Township Police are warning local residents to beware of "spoof" phone calls from someone claiming to be a representative of a company called SpectaGuard.

Wikipedia defines spoofing as "a situation in which one person or program successfully masquerades as another by falsifying data and thereby gaining an illegitimate advantage."

Police say they became aware of the alleged spoofing when a township resident advised them of a suspicious March 10 phone call from a woman claiming to be a representative for "SpectaGuard Incorporated." The phone number that registered on the resident's caller ID device was 610-233-0519, police said.

The woman who said she worked for SpectaGuard told the resident the company would be in the area conducting mandatory fire code inspections, and attempted to set up an appointment for someone to come to the residence to conduct an inspection, police said. 

The resident declined the offer and hung up, police added.

Police say they subsequently learned that SpectaGuard's phone number has been "spoofed" by unknown actors, that the company has been acquired by Allied Barton Security and that it has no involvement with fire code inspections.

"This type of scam can result in a distraction by which homes are burglarized and/or items get stolen from residences," police said.

Anyone with information about this incident, or who has received similar calls, is asked to contact the Lower Saucon Police Department at 610-317-6110.