Arkansas State Police Warns of Scam Callers Impersonating Internet Crime Task Force

Authorities say scammers are exploiting public trust in law enforcement to intimidate and deceive

Apr. 14, 2026 at 1:55pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a cracked smartphone screen reflecting a distorted image of a police badge, shot with a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, conceptually illustrating the deceptive nature of scam calls impersonating law enforcement.Scammers impersonating law enforcement exploit public trust, raising concerns about personal data security.Little Rock Today

The Arkansas State Police (ASP) has issued a warning about a new scam where callers are impersonating officers from the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. Several Arkansas residents have received calls from individuals claiming to be "Officer Jackson" and demanding a return call in connection with an alleged investigation. In some cases, the scammers have even threatened to issue a warrant if the individual does not respond.

Why it matters

This scam is concerning as it exploits the public's trust in law enforcement to try and deceive and intimidate people. The ASP wants to make it clear that they would never call an individual to announce an investigation or threaten arrest over the phone, so Arkansans need to be vigilant about protecting their personal information and reporting any suspicious calls immediately.

The details

According to the ASP, the scammers have been leaving callback numbers in some instances, and in at least one case, the caller threatened to issue a warrant if the individual did not respond. The ASP emphasizes that these calls are illegitimate and that neither the ASP nor the ICAC Task Force would contact people in this manner.

  • On April 14, 2026, the Arkansas State Police issued the warning about the scam calls.

The players

Arkansas State Police (ASP)

The state law enforcement agency that issued the warning about the scam calls impersonating the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force

A national network of state and local law enforcement agencies that investigate technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation and internet crimes against children.

Col. Mike Hagar

The Director of the Arkansas State Police who stated that the scammers are exploiting the public's trust in law enforcement.

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What they’re saying

“These scammers are exploiting the public's trust in law enforcement to intimidate and deceive. The Arkansas State Police will never call to announce an investigation or threaten arrest over the phone. We want Arkansans to stay vigilant, protect their personal information, and report suspicious calls immediately.”

— Col. Mike Hagar, ASP Director

The takeaway

This scam highlights the importance of being cautious when receiving unsolicited calls from individuals claiming to be law enforcement. Arkansans should verify the legitimacy of any such calls before providing any personal information or responding to threats, and report any suspicious activity to the proper authorities immediately.