Evanston Police Warn of Scam Involving Impersonation of Sergeant

Scammers falsely claim victims have active warrants and demand payment to avoid arrest.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Evanston Police Department is alerting the public about a scam where individuals are impersonating Evanston police officers and demanding payment in cryptocurrency to avoid arrest for alleged outstanding warrants. The department has confirmed these calls are fraudulent and they will never contact residents to demand payment.

Why it matters

This scam targets vulnerable residents and could result in financial losses for victims who fall for the impersonation. It's important for the community to be aware of this tactic so they can avoid becoming victims.

The details

On February 4, two victims reported to the Chicago Police Department that they were contacted by someone claiming to be 'Sergeant Endre' from the Evanston Police Department. The caller falsely claimed the victims had active arrest warrants and would be taken into custody unless they made a payment in cryptocurrency. The Evanston Police Department has confirmed they will never contact residents to demand payment in any form to avoid arrest or resolve warrants.

  • On February 4, 2026, two victims reported the scam to the Chicago Police Department.

The players

Evanston Police Department

The local law enforcement agency in Evanston, Illinois that is warning residents about this scam.

Sergeant Endre

The fictitious Evanston police officer that scammers are impersonating in phone calls to victims.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

Community members who receive a call from someone claiming to be an Evanston police officer demanding payment should hang up immediately and contact the Evanston Police Department at 847-866-5000 to report the incident.

The takeaway

This scam highlights the importance of verifying the identity of anyone claiming to be a law enforcement officer before providing any personal or financial information. Residents should be wary of unsolicited calls demanding immediate payment to avoid arrest.