Phone Scammers Say They Can Make An Arrest Warrant Go Away

The Athens-Clarke County Police Department is warning citizens about a phone scam reported this week involving a caller posing as a police officer saying there's an arrest warrant with your name on it.

The department said it received two complaints this week from residents who have received the suspicious calls.

In one incident, a man who called himself “Sergeant Parker” told an Athens woman he had court documents concerning her and he needed her email address so he could send her the document.

“She gave him an address and when she received the documents, it was an arrest warrant signed by a local judge,” police said in a news release. “A short time later the suspect called back and told her to send a certain amount of money on different cards. Once the money was sent, she was instructed to call him or Lieutenant Scarborough and they would ‘take care of the warrant.’”

The second incident involved a warrant for missing jury duty. An “Officer Parker” told the victim to wire money to make a bogus arrest warrant go away.

ACCPD issued these reminders:

• Police officers, sheriff’s deputies, and officers of the court do not call and ask for personal or financial information or to inform them they have warrants. There is never an instance where you can send money and have the warrant “taken care of.” Never send any money via wire transfers for requests such as this.

• Scammers will "spoof" telephone numbers so it appears the call is coming from a legitimate organization. “Spoofing” is when scammers use a device that will allow the telephone network to display a number on the recipients’ caller ID display that is not the actual originating station.

• Another common scam involves a call that a relative has been arrested and needs money sent to get them out of jail. Sometimes the caller will have a person get on the line and pretend to be the relative. This line usually has a “bad connection” so the potential victim cannot recognize the “relative’s” voice. If this type call is received, hang up and call the relative at their number to verify if they are actually in need of your assistance.

• Always remember - never give out personal information (date of birth, bank or credit card information, etc.) over the telephone – especially to strangers. Never let a stranger know you are home alone, when you will be away, or if you have an alarm system.