FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS ADVISORY
September 8, 2016
For More Information, contact:
Luther Strange
Mike Lewis (334) 353-2199
Alabama Attorney General
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
Page 1 of 1
ATTORNEY GENERAL STRANGE WARNS OF SCAMMERS CLAIMING TO BE
FROM ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE DEMANDING PAYMENT IN ORDER TO
AVOID ARREST
(MONTGOMERY) – Attorney General Luther Strange warns Alabama residents of a
new telephone scam in which scam artists using a faked caller ID claim to be from the
Attorney General’s Office seeking payment for an old debt or bad check.
“My office has logged multiple complaints today from people across Alabama reporting
they’ve received phone calls from the Attorney General’s Office Investigations Division
threatening them with arrest if they don’t pay off an old debt or bad check,” said
Attorney General Strange.
The scam callers are using “spoofing” technology to generate fake caller IDs that read
the same as the Attorney General’s Office. The scam artists are attempting to pressure
their victims to purchase pre-paid credit cards or other forms of payment to avoid
arrest.
“Please know that any call you may receive from the Attorney General’s Office, or any
law enforcement agency or court office for that matter, to collect money is a scam.
Furthermore, debt collectors cannot arrest you. If, for any reason, law enforcement or
the courts have an issue with you, you will usually be notified in writing and be
ordered to contact the clerk’s office, either in person or by telephone.
“Persons should never assume phone calls and caller IDs which claim to be from law
enforcement, the courts or the IRS, are genuine. You should always seek to verify them
by first calling those agencies directly.
“Impersonating a law enforcement officer and misrepresenting the judicial process to
scam people out of money is a serious crime and I encourage anyone who receives such
a call to report it to my office at 1-800-392-5658,” said Attorney General Strange.
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501 Washington Avenue * Montgomery, AL 36104 * (334) 242-7300
www.ago.alabama.gov
