Lake Charles, LA –
Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Stitch Guillory and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) serving Southwest Louisiana are warning area residents about a scam targeting local citizens. Victims report receiving phone calls claiming they have either missed jury duty or have some sort of legal issues and now owe fees that must be paid in order to avoid arrest.
Scammers have been reported to pose as deputies with the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office, often using the names of actual CPSO deputies to seem more convincing. There are numerous variations of these scams but in all of them, the criminals instruct victims to either purchase prepaid cards, make wire transfers, or make payments using a Bitcoin kiosk, claiming it will void a warrant and prevent their arrest.
Sheriff Guillory emphasizes that the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office will never ask for money or any form of payment in lieu of missing jury duty or for an active warrant nor does it demand payment via prepaid cards, wire transfers, or Bitcoin. “We take these scams seriously and actively investigate any claim. These scammers prey on fear and urgency, threatening immediate arrest if you are non-compliant. We urge residents to report any suspicious activity to CPSO,” said Sheriff Guillory.
The BBB advises residents to avoid engaging with unsolicited callers requesting personal information or payment. If you receive such a call, do not provide any personal or financial details. Hang up immediately and verify the legitimacy of the claim by contacting the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office or your local law enforcement agency directly.
Residents are encouraged to spread awareness of this scam to protect others in the community. If you believe you have been targeted by this scam, contact CPSO at (337) 491-3605 and report it to the BBB’s Scam Tracker at www.bbb.org/scamtracker.
Contact Information:
Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office: (337) 491-3605
BBB of Southwest Louisiana: (337) 478-6253