It appears that a prankster has been reaching out to residents in Kitsap County by using a “spoofed” Kitsap News Group phone number and falsely identifying themselves as a newspaper editor and reporter.

Employees of the North Kitsap Herald and Port Orchard Independent were alerted by numerous callers who stated they had received harassing phone calls from a male individual claiming to be a reporter for the North Kitsap Herald. In at least one instance, the individual identified himself as “Bob” and also “Bob Diblioni” and stated that he was an editor with the North Kitsap Herald.

The phone number used in at least two of the calls was 360-876-4414, the direct office line for the Port Orchard Independent. When a scammer uses a “spoofed” phone number, the phone number from which they are calling is disguised as another number on the recipient’s caller ID.

Law enforcement agencies in Port Orchard, Poulsbo and Kitsap County have been alerted to the spoofing incidents and the threatening nature of the phone calls.

Anyone who suspects that they have received a call from the “spoofed” number is asked to call the North Kitsap Herald’s office at 360-779-4464 and make the incident known to staff and provide details.