A Downers Grove man was the apparent target of an attempted phone scam conducted by an unknown inmate who was incarcerated at the DuPage County Jail, police said Thursday.

According to police, the inmate deceived the Downers Grove man into typing a special prefix which – depending upon phone plans – can surrender phone service access to phone numbers entered after the prefix is dialed, police said.

The man told police that on June 5, at approximately 1 p.m., he was at home when he received a distraught collect phone call from a man claiming he had been arrested for speeding, a report states. The man explained that he was being held at the DuPage County Jail, had dialed the Downers Grove man’s phone number by accident and was only allowed to make one phone call, the report states.

The inmate on the phone continued: he explained that he needed to make contact with his wife, who he claimed worked as a nurse at a suburban hospital, because he had his kids with him at the time of his arrest, the report states.

The inmate provided the man with the phone service-surrendering prefix and a phone number that he claimed belonged to his wife, the report states. The man then told police that he called the number, receiving a “busy” signal, the report states.

The man then tried calling the hospital, but was told a nurse there was no employee by the name he provided, the report states.

The man’s phone then rang in short succession with two more collect phone calls from the DuPage County Jail and the man grew suspicious, the report states.

He then contacted the Downers Grove police department and was informed that the prefix provided to him can allow third parties to access his phone service, the report states.

Police say the man’s phone service carrier informed him that the phone service surrendering feature is not part of his service plan and he was not at risk.

The man did not want to pursue the matter further, but wanted to file a report of the incident police say.

Downers Grove police weren’t able to comment upon whether they informed the sheriff’s department about the unknown inmate who was conducting the scam.

bslodysko@tribune.com

Twitter: @BrianSlodysko