WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – Residents of eastern and southeastern North Carolina are being asked to stay alert of an imposter scam involving individuals claiming to be law officials, according to the U.S. Marshals Service Eastern District of North Carolina.

Per the USMS, scammers are claiming to be U.S. Marshals, court officers or other law enforcement officials. The scam involves fake arrest warrants and a demand to pay through prepaid cards.

“The documents may appear to be official looking and credible and may include names of actual judges, law enforcement officers and courthouse addresses. The scammers will tell the victim to send money to clear the warrants,” the release states. “The USMS urges people to report the mailings to their local FBI office and file a consumer complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, which can detect patterns of fraud from the information collected and share that data with law enforcement.”

The U.S. Marshals Service will never ask for credit or debit card numbers, request a wire to be sent or that you obtain gift cards for any purpose.

“Always authenticate correspondence by calling the clerk of court’s office in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina and verify the court order that you receive,” the release adds. “If you believe you were the victim of such a scam, you are encouraged to report the incident to your local FBI offices, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Clerk of Court in your area.”

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