Local Law enforcement is advising the public of a number of phone scams going on in our area. Most recently we are receiving complaints from citizens are receiving calls from individuals identifying themselves as federal agents or warrants officers. The callers are telling citizens that they have an open court case and that they must send money to resolve the issue or they will be arrested or charged with more crimes. In some cases it appears the callers are targeting the elderly. In nearly all of the cases the caller is requiring some sort of electronic payment such as providing information from a pre-paid gift card.

Law enforcement in our area does not call citizens and request them to send money to resolve court cases. In most of these cases we find that the calls are coming from another state or another country.

If you should receive a call like this, I would suggest you hang up or at the very least if they give an agency name, look up that agency and call the number provided to determine if the call is legitimate. Do not call the number they provide for you although it may be a local number.