Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana - The Sheriff's Office in Calcasieu Parish has noticed a new version of the arrest warrant scam being seen in Southwest Louisiana.
The victims claim they have received a phone call informing them that there is a warrant out for their arrest. The caller, who says they are a deputy from the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office, tells the victim to give them a prepaid card to clear the warrant and prevent being arrested.
The CPSO is reminding residents that they will always be served a valid arrest warrant in person by law enforcement officers. Deputies will never ask for money or any kind of payment instead of a warrant.
Sheriff Mancuso is urging residents to keep in mind some of the following tips to prevent falling for 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 send money based on a request made over the phone or in an e-mail