St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Officials Warn Of Scams

The St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office wants to warn residents of some active scams in their area.

They are also asking people to report any type of scamming activity to their office.

In one scam, a caller claimed to be representing the Publishing Clearing House, and they were able to scam the victim out of $2,000.

In another scam, the caller claimed to be with the Department of Treasury and even gave an "official" sounding ID number.  The scammer even told the victim to call an attorney and made threats that they were in "big trouble".

As part of third scam, the victim sent money to an out of state seller, but they never received their item.

Furthermore, the Sheriff's Office has received complaints from people calling residents and trying to get their personal information.

Sheriff Mark Hebert says,

"There are countless ways criminals will attempt to scam you by preying on your emotions and fears. Do not give personal information out to anyone over the phone unless you are the one who initiated contact. Talk with your family members and friends about these dangers so they do not become victims."

You should report crimes to your local police, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crime Complaint Center by clicking here.  This website also provides information on current internet and telephone scams.