The Forsyth Sheriff's office says the scammer is calling people, claiming they've missed jury duty, have an unpaid parking ticket, or have an outstanding fine, according to Sheriff's Deputy Robin Regan.
Regan says they're actually using real names of law enforcement officers.
Then the caller instructs the person to stay on the line and pay up, or else face arrest. Usually the caller tells the person to drive to a store and purchase a pre-paid debit card to pay over the phone.
"It really plays on people's fears," said Regan, who said people should hang up and call the local law enforcement office if they're worried they might actually have an outstanding fine.
"We actually believe this could be coming from people incarcerated in the Georgia state prisons," said Regan.
He says they're investigating with the prison wardens, but they don't know the source of the scam yet. He cautions people not to give money over the phone.
"No agency would ever [ask for that]," he said.
So far he says they've had a number of people victimized by the scam, and he thinks more could be out there who aren't aware they've been scammed.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2014/5/275308