Lawton Police Warn Of Recent Telephone Scams

The Lawton Police Department is warning people to hang up on scammers who are dialing up potential victims in Oklahoma.

Lawton Police say they've recently had reports of two scams. In one, the caller claims to be with the "Warrant Services Association," or with a division of the DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency). The caller tells victims they are wanted for writing a bad check at a cash advance store. The scammer then says victims must pay a fine, usually around $1,500.

When a person asks for proof, the caller emails a document with a fake State Department seal. Police say the scam appears to originate in the United States.

The second scam, however, may come from the country of Chile. The caller claims to be a relative of the victim, and says they're in Chile and need money to get out of jail or return home. The scam artists usually ask for between $1,500 and $1,700. The caller then hangs up, and a person claiming to be an attorney calls back and tells the victim where to send the money.

The police department says neither scam is new. There are also many others going around right now. Police say agencies rarely call and demand money for fines; the process goes through the court system.

Police say you should never send money to someone unless you know for sure where it is going.

10/8/2013 Related Story: OKC Police Warn Of Scam Artists Targeting Elderly