Man seeks bond money as part of phone scam

COLUMBIA — Police said a scam, in which a man posing as a Columbia Police officer called a restaurant Thursday seeking bond money, was similar to one perpetrated earlier this year.

The manager of Buckingham's Smokehouse Barbecue, located at 3804 Buttonwood Drive, was asked to wire $637 to Los Angeles to post bond for a friend, according to a Columbia Police Department news release.

The male caller told the manager that her friend had been arrested for driving while intoxicated, and that if she guessed the name of the friend based on a description, he could verify it.

The manager checked in person at the Columbia Police Department and discovered the call was a fraud.

This story is similar to a Jan. 18 phone call to Steak 'n Shake restaurant in which the caller claimed to be from the Boone County Sheriff’s Department. Then, too, the manager was asked to wire money to California, police said.

In both incidents the caller claimed to be named “officer Porter."

Police ask that readers with information call Crime Stoppers at 875-TIPS or the Police Department at 874-7652.