Law enforcement reminds residents to hang up on scam calls about outstanding warrants

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, N.C. (WECT) - Law enforcement in Wilmington, Carolina Beach and Pender County are reminding residents to hang up and call the police when confronted with a warrant scam.

In Wilmington, police say a scammer called a citizen claiming they have warrants and need to pay a certain amount to avoid arrest.

“The Wilmington Police Department does not ever do this. The scammer has recently identified themselves using the real name and rank of a Wilmington Police officer. If you receive a phone call like this, hang up the phone and call the Wilmington Police Department at 910-343-3600,” the WPD said in an announcement from Wednesday, May 24.

The Pender County Sheriff’s Office is reporting similar scams.

“The Pender County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents of a recent scam targeting citizens of Pender County. It has been reported in cases, a suspect has contacted residents impersonating themselves as a deputy from the Pender County Sheriff’s Office, with threats of arrest or warning for failing to come to court or civil papers service. The impersonator is asking for them to send them money in order to avoid arrest,” the PCSO said in a Facebook post.

The PCSO says that it will never demand or request money from citizens to avoid arrest, and asks anyone who feels they have fallen victim to a scam to report the activity to the sheriff’s office at 910-259-1515.

According to an announcement from the Carolina Beach Police Department in March, residents have reported receiving phone calls from scammers claiming to be members of the CBPD. The scam callers then request money in order to resolve an “outstanding warrant for arrest.”

“These calls are scams, and no money should be paid to these callers. If you receive a suspicious phone call threatening your arrest or demanding payment for an outstanding warrant or traffic violation, please hang up immediately. If your personal information has been utilized, or you have given money, please call our non-emergency phone number at 910-562-6120 to make a report,” stated the release from CBPD.

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