City of Austin
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASERelease Date:
Contact: Public Information Office 512-974-5017 Email
We would like to warn the public that the Austin Police Department has been notified of several incidents of people receiving calls from someone claiming to be from the Austin Police Department Public Information Office (APD PIO). The number they are calling from is 512-974-5017 which is the number to APD PIO, and the calls are for various reasons.
This could be a scam. If you receive a call from 512-974-5017, make sure to ask for the full name and badge number of the person calling you and ask for the reason they are calling. Additionally, if you call 512-974-5017, it will ring to APD PIO and you can verify whether the person you were speaking with is in fact from APD PIO. Most of the calls made from APD PIO are calls we are returning, from citizens and media. You can also reach the public information office by calling Austin 3-1-1 or 512-974-5000 or by emailing police3@austintexas.gov.
If you feel that you have been a victim of this potential scam, please call 3-1-1 to make a non-emergency report.