ST. TAMMANY PARISH, La. The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a scam involving callers pretending to be a member of the department.
According to STPSO, scammers have been leaving messages claiming to be “Sgt. Mike McCrea” and asking residents to return the call regarding what they describe as an “important legal matter.”
There are two problems with that claim. Mike McCrea is actually a captain with STPSO, and the calls are not coming from him.
The Sheriff’s Office says scammers may use the names of real law enforcement officers to make their calls appear legitimate. In some cases, scammers may threaten arrest or other legal consequences in an attempt to pressure someone into acting quickly.
Residents who receive one of these calls are urged to hang up and not provide personal information, banking information, credit or debit card numbers, or prepaid or gift card information.
STPSO summed up its warning simply:
Hang up. Don’t pay. Don’t give out personal information.
APR•St Tammany encourages residents to share this warning, especially with family members who may be more vulnerable to phone scams.