Residents across St. Mary Parish are once again being targeted by scammers impersonating deputies with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office.
According to officials, callers falsely claim the victim missed a court appearance and now has an active warrant. The scam quickly escalates with threats of arrest—followed by a demand for immediate payment to “make the warrant go away.”
How the Scam Works
Victims report receiving calls that include:
Claims they “missed court”
Warnings of an active arrest warrant
Instructions to stay on the phone while withdrawing money
Requests for payment via gift cards or other non-traceable methods
What You Need to Know
Sheriff’s officials stress the following:
Deputies do NOT call requesting money to resolve warrants
Law enforcement does NOT ask anyone to rush to a bank or ATM
Warrants are NOT handled through gift cards or phone payments
What To Do If You Get This Call
Hang up immediately
Do not send money
Do not purchase gift cards
Report the call to local authorities
Officials remind the public that legitimate warrants are handled through official court and law enforcement procedures—not phone calls and payment demands.
