Calcasieu Sheriff Tony Mancuso is warning area residents of a scam that has recently resurfaced in our area.

Victims report receiving a phone call stating a warrant has been issued for their arrest due to failure to appear in court.  The caller, who claims to be with the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office and uses a name of a current CPSO deputy, informs the victim if they pay a lump sum of money their arrest will be voided.  Upon calling the reported suspect’s phone number, deputies learned he has a voicemail setup stating he is with the sheriff’s office, non-emergency dispatch.

This is a scam.

Mancuso wants residents to know that the majority of the time a valid arrest warrant is served in person by law enforcement officials; however, in some circumstances a law enforcement official may call you if you have a warrant but under no circumstance will that officer ever ask for money or any form of payment.

Mancuso wants to remind residents of a few tips to use to avoid becoming a victim of a scam:

• Resist the pressure to make an immediate decision.  Fraudsters create a sense of urgency to get you to act quickly
• Verify the information before sending any money
• Never wire money or give gift card information based on a request made over the phone or in an e-mail.  Keep in mind that doing so is like giving cash—once you send it, you cannot get it back.

If anyone believes they may have been victimized by these scammers, please contact the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office at 491-3605.