Attorney General Daniel Cameron issued a consumer alert Thursday warning Kentuckians of scams related to fake arrest warrants. In these schemes, he says scammers impersonate law enforcement in order to convince Kentuckians that they have an outstanding warrant for their arrest and must immediately make a payment for fake fines.
Cameron says arrest warrant scams are not new, but this type of fraud is on the rise in Kentucky. He adds Kentuckians in all 120 counties should be on guard for scammers who impersonate law enforcement and demand payment via gift cards or mobile payment apps.
Since January, officials with the Attorney General’s office say they have seen an increase in reports of arrest warrant scams, and Kentuckians have reported losing over $41,000 to these scams. In addition to these losses, the Attorney General’s office is aware of increased reports of arrest warrant scams from agencies with whom the office collaborates on fraud prevention efforts. While fraudsters may seek to scam any Kentucky, the Attorney General’s office says recent reports show an uptick in arrest warrant scams targeting workers in the medical community.
To avoid becoming a victim of an arrest warrant, the Attorney General’s office offers the following tips:
– Resist pressure to make an immediate payment to a threatening caller, as scammers use scare tactics to create a sense of urgency.
– If you receive a call from a law enforcement officer demanding that you pay a fine to avoid arrest for a missed court appearance, jury duty, or other matter to avoid arrest, hang up and contact the actual law enforcement agency directly at their official telephone number.
– Remember that law enforcement will not require payment over the phone or through gift cards to resolve these matters.
– If there is a warrant for your arrest, you will not get a phone call warning you. A police officer or deputy will just show up to arrest you.
To report scams, contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-888-432-9257, or complete the online scam complaint at ag.ky.gov/scams.
