By Scarlet Thalman
BCR Correspondent
BUCHANAN, MI — On February 11, 2026, Chief Harvey Burnett of the Buchanan Police Department issued a public alert regarding a recent surge in fraudulent phone calls. The alert included information about the nature of the scam calls, what residents should look out for, and how not to become a victim — as well as further resources about scams in the form of the “FBI Common Scams and Fraud” website.
According to Burnett, the issue intensified over the last several months, prompting the department to take action after numerous residents called to report suspicious activity or contacted the station with concerns.
The scam involves residents receiving phone calls, often from blocked numbers, in which the caller claims to be local law enforcement attempting to settle an arrest warrant. The callers then demand payment to resolve the warrant, specifically requesting Bitcoin, payment at a Bitcoin station, or other payment methods. During these calls, victims may also be asked for personal identifying information such as dates of birth or Social Security numbers.
According to Burnett, there have been one or two official complaints related to the scam, though it remains unclear how many individuals may have been affected in the area. In cases officially reported to the department, “Some of those are still under investigation, and some have been defrauded.” While exact financial losses have not been confirmed, the reported figures likely represent only a portion of the total incidents occurring within the community.
Calls of this nature do not appear to target any specific demographic and have “gone both to businesses and residents of all ages,” Burnett said, highlighting the broad scope of the issue and the need for widespread awareness. When asked what additional measures are being taken to combat this issue, Burnett acknowledged the department’s limitations, stating, “We don’t have the major resources like larger agencies,” and emphasized that the primary focus remains on educating the public. As for what residents should remember, he stressed, “Law enforcement does not handle warrants or arrests by phone,” and added, “Police will never ask for Bitcoin payment over the phone.” He also advised residents to report suspicious activity to local law enforcement.
With scams becoming increasingly sophisticated nationwide, Burnett said local education efforts will continue in hopes of preventing residents from becoming victims. By staying informed and reporting suspicious activity, residents can play an active role in limiting the impact of fraud within the community.