Attorney General Luther Strange warns of a recurring scam in Alabama involving callers  who falsely claim to be from the Attorney General’s Office.

The Attorney General’s Office received five calls in one day from people reporting messages purporting to be from the Attorney General’s Office and saying that a legal matter must be resolved now.

In the past, scammers said they were attempting to collect a debt and threatened arrest if a bill was not paid.

This scam is very similar to others reported in Alabama in which callers posing as law enforcement officials demand payment for either an unpaid bill or to avoid an arrest for missed jury duty. The scammer then reassures the victim the whole matter can be settled without the victim being arrested if the victim will just agree to purchase a pre-paid credit card and pay the bond over the phone. Victims have sometimes been instructed to go to a specific retail store to obtain such a card.

Attorney General Strange cautions, “Please know that any call you may receive from the Attorney General’s Office attempting 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 would usually be notified in writing and be ordered to contact the clerk’s office, either in person or by telephone. Impersonating a law enforcement officer and misrepresenting the judicial process to frighten and trick people out of money is a serious crime, and we hope anyone who receives such a call will report it to their local law enforcement.”