You can't make an arrest warrant go away by putting money on a prepaid gift card.

But that's what some dubious folks would like you to think, Detective John Hatcher of the Casper Police Department told reporters Monday morning.

It's pretty simple. Scammers will call and say you missed jury duty and there's a warrant for your arrest, but you can avoid going to jail if you make a payment in one form or another.

"That should be one of your first clues," Hatcher said. "We don't do that."

"If you have a warrant for your arrest, you will be taken to jail. You cannot get out of it by paying money over the phone to us," Hatcher added.

It's a particularly lucrative scam, Hatcher said, which has been around for roughly the past decade.

Hatcher warns scammers will also try to trick folks into giving out personal information, such as social security numbers, which can be used to steal a victim's identity.

"When they say they have a warrant for your arrest and you say 'what? I'm gonna get arrested?' they'll say 'well hold on, let me verify -- what's your name again? What's your date of birth?'" Hatcher said.

Remember, don't send money to unknown callers. If you're concerned that a true warrant for your arrest exists, you can verify that at the courthouse or with authorities.

 

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