ATLANTA, Georgia (Atlanta News First) – The DeKalb County District Attorney issued an alert Tuesday that a person posing as an investigator with her agency was attempting to defraud people of money.
DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston said in a press release that several people recently told her office the scammer called them as part of a “warrant scam.”
The scammer reportedly said there was a warrant out for the victim’s arrest, but the victim could pay off the warrant by paying a large sum, “generally $1,000 or more,” Boston said.
The “investigator” also claimed that he sent officers to the victim’s home to arrest them if they did not pay immediately. The scammer then asked the victims to withdraw money from an ATM and meet them in person.
To make the calls appear real, the scammer spoofed the prosecutor’s main phone number, (404) 371-2561, Boston said.
“Such scams continue to occur throughout Atlanta and follow a similar pattern,” the Boston press release said. “The scammers falsely pose as court or law enforcement officials and claim that the recipient of the call must pay them a fine for failing to fulfill their jury duty or to avoid arrest.”
If you receive one of these calls, Boston says you should hang up and report the call to law enforcement.
Boston also reminded the public:
- Arrest warrants cannot be terminated by paying a fine.
- The State Attorney’s Office does not process court or fine payments and will never ask you for checks, cash, gift cards, or electronic payments.
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