Police warn public about phone scams claiming warrants
Local law enforcement is warning residents about a series of phone scams in which callers falsely claim people have outstanding warrants or unpaid fines and demand payment, officials said in a Facebook post. Authorities urged anyone receiving such calls to disconnect immediately and not to provide personal information.
The scam callers have claimed to represent a police department or sheriff’s office and have instructed targets to pay alleged fines, the post said. “WE WILL NEVER CALL YOU TO INFORM YOU, THAT YOU HAVE A WARRANT,” the post said, adding that the calls are from scammers.
Impostor phone scams that use threats or urgency to extract money or sensitive data are a common fraud technique. Experts say these calls can lead to financial loss and identity theft if callers succeed in obtaining bank details, Social Security numbers or other personal information. Consumers should hang up, verify any claim by contacting their local agency using a publicly listed phone number, and avoid following payment instructions given on a suspicious call.
People who receive these calls should report them to their local law enforcement agency and to federal consumer authorities. We will provide more information as it becomes available.
