Scam callers pose as U.S. Marshals, Hattiesburg police, demand payment
Hattiesburg police warned residents Wednesday after receiving multiple reports of a phone scam in which callers falsely identify themselves as members of the U.S. Marshals Service or the Hattiesburg Police Department and claim the recipient has fines or outstanding warrants.
The callers threatened arrest if victims did not immediately withdraw funds from their bank accounts to pay alleged debts, the Hattiesburg Police Department said in a Facebook post. The department said the calls are fraudulent and that neither it nor the U.S. Marshals Service contacts individuals to demand payment over the phone.
Officials urged residents to be skeptical of unsolicited calls requesting personal or financial information, to avoid engaging with callers and to refuse payment requests made by phone. The department asked anyone who receives such a call to report the incident to local authorities and to contact Hattiesburg police at 601-544-7900 with additional information.
The U.S. Marshals Service is a federal law enforcement agency that handles arrests, prisoner transport and other duties; legitimate agencies generally do not demand payment over the phone. This is a developing story and will be updated as more details emerge.
