MERIDIAN - Police are sending out a warning to residents about a phone scam, in which the caller claims to be from the Meridian Police Department and demands money.
According to Meridian police, the scammers tell the victim that they have an unpaid ticket, a warrant for their arrest or missed jury duty and they need to pay a fine immediately to avoid being arrested.
The caller typically asks the victim to purchase a pre-paid credit card and provide them with number, police said. They may also ask for cash, a cashier's check, a money wire, or some other form of payment.
Various forms of this type of phone scam have been around for years.
Investigators have received reports about the scam from several local residents over the last week. Police say some of the victims sent money to the scammers.
"The Meridian Police Department, nor any other local law enforcement agency, will ever call a citizen to solicit or demand money for any reason," the department said in a news release.
Anyone who receives a suspicious call is asked to hang up immediately, and report it to police.
