East Elementary School

Parents/Guardians,

The Nebraska Department of Education sent out an email alerting parents about reports of a phone scam that has recently affected several Nebraska school districts. Although this type of scam has occurred periodically in the past, recent incidents remind us to stay vigilant and consider sharing this information with your family.

In these scams, a parent receives a call from an unknown number. The caller falsely claims to be a school employee—often a counselor or another staff member—and says that your child is in trouble or involved in an emergency. They may then try to direct you to meet at a specific location to pick up your child and might tell you not to hang up or discuss the call with anyone else.

Please remember, these calls are fraudulent and should not be trusted.

We recommend that you:

- If you receive a call claiming your child is in trouble, hang up and call the school directly using the official phone number listed in the directory.

- Know that school staff will never ask you to meet at secret, undisclosed, or off-campus locations to pick up your child.

- Understand that school personnel will not instruct you to keep a situation confidential or prevent you from contacting others.

- Be cautious of calls from unknown numbers that create a sense of urgency or pressure you to act immediately.

While these scams are not new, they continue to appear in different communities. Being aware and cautious is one of the best ways to protect yourself and your family.

If you receive suspicious calls, please report them to local law enforcement and inform your child's school so authorities can track patterns and share information.