”Department Of Legal Affairs” Phone Scam Reported

Sweetwater County officials are reporting a new twist on an old phone scam.

Spokesman Dick Blust says the scam, which has been reported across the country, features someone with a thick accent calling people up and claiming to represent the [phony] "Department of Legal Affairs". The intended victim is told an arrest warrant has been issued for them because of a supposed unpaid debt, missed jury duty or some other infraction.

The victim is told they must pay a fee to avoid arrest, usually using a pre-paid debit card. The latest scam is merely a new twist on the old fraud of threatening people with arrest for fake infractions.

The pre-paid debit card is usually used because it makes it virtually impossible the recover the payment once it has been made.

Some national reports indicate the calls are being made from India. More information is available on the FBI website