09/23/2026
PHILLIPS COUNTY SHERIFF'S
🚨 SCAM ALERT: HAS YOUR CELL PHONE BEEN TAKEN OVER? 🚨
The Phillips County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a particularly concerning scam in which a scammer may gain control of a victim’s cell phone and restrict its calling ability so that, regardless of what number the victim enters, the phone connects only to the scammer’s phone.
Imagine trying to call your spouse, a friend, your bank, or another trusted number—only to discover that every number you dial connects to the same person.
This is a serious warning sign that your phone or cellular account may have been compromised.
IF THIS HAPPENS TO YOU:
🔴 Stop using the compromised phone to communicate with the scammer.
🔴 Do not provide the caller with passwords, PINs, verification codes, banking information, or other personal information.
🔴 Use a different phone immediately to contact your cellular provider through its official customer-service number and report that your account or phone may have been compromised.
🔴 From a secure device, change passwords for your important accounts, including your email, banking, and cellular accounts.
🔴 Contact your financial institutions if you believe your financial information may have been exposed.
🔴 If you believe you have been the victim of a crime, contact your local law enforcement agency.
IMPORTANT: If your phone suddenly will not allow you to call the number you entered and instead repeatedly connects you to the same unknown person, do not assume it is a technical problem. Treat it as a potential scam or account takeover.
Scammers rely on confusion, urgency, and keeping their victims from contacting someone who can help.
STOP. DO NOT GIVE OUT INFORMATION. GET TO ANOTHER PHONE AND CONTACT YOUR CELLULAR PROVIDER.
Please share this warning with family members, friends, and especially those who may be more vulnerable to telephone scams.
— Phillips County Sheriff's Office
