The Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office has issued what they call an "urgent warning" to the public about a scam.
"Scammers have been impersonating OPSO personnel and instructing victims to send money," Chief Communications Officer Casey McGee explained in a news release.
She says the criminals are targeting the families of individuals in custody "under the false pretense of securing a loved one’s release."
McGee advises anyone contacted to immediately hang up and report the call to the police.
"These fraudulent callers have claimed that OPSO does not accept in-person payments and have directed individuals to pay via Cash App, Venmo, Chime, Zelle, Western Union, or through retail gift cards. In some cases, victims have lost thousands of dollars before discovering that no such release was arranged and no legitimate OPSO representative was involved."
The news release notes:
-OPSO will never contact anyone to solicit the release of a detainee.
-OPSO will never solicit or accept payment for detainee release.
-OPSO does not request or accept funds via peer-to-peer payment platforms or gift cards.
"If you are contacted by someone claiming to represent the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office and asking for money, hang up and report the call immediately."
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