Lake Charles, LA –
Sheriff Tony Mancuso is warning area residents of a scam that may possibly surface in our area.
Victims in nearby parishes have reported receiving an email from what appears to be the Louisiana Sheriff’s Association (LSA) president, Sheriff Jason Ard. The email asks the victims to participate in collecting gift cards to donate to veterans to help with the financial burdens of COVID. The email then instructs the victim to reply to the email if they wish to participate. DO NOT REPLY! This is a scam, not a legitimate communications from the LSA.
Sheriff Mancuso wants to remind residents of a few tips to use to avoid becoming a victim of a scam:
· Resist the pressure to make an immediate decision. Fraudsters create a sense of urgency to get you to act quickly
· Verify the information before sending any money
· Never wire money or give gift card information based on a request made over the phone or in an e-mail. Keep in mind that doing so is like giving cash—once you send it, you cannot get it back.
If anyone believes they may have been victimized by these scammers, please contact the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office at 491-3605.