Sheriff David L. Dauzat is issuing a scam alert to the citizens of Avoyelles Parish. Unfortunately, scammers are “at it again.”
The Avoyelles Parish Sheriff’s Office (APSO) has received multiple complaints from citizens regarding unsolicited phone calls and mail claiming to be from our agency. These scammers are attempting to keep victims on the phone to “verify” personal information.
Sheriff Dauzat stated, “One of the biggest giveaways is the voice on the other end of the line. These callers often do not have a local accent. They frequently mispronounce our local names, towns, and streets, they simply do not pronounce words like we do. If they don’t sound like us, be on high alert.”
If anyone receives a phone call or mailing claiming to be from APSO:
- Hang Up: Do not provide any information.
- Verify: Call the main office directly at (318) 253-4000.
- Visit: Come to the Sheriff’s Office to speak with a Deputy in person to verify if APSO is actually trying to make contact.
Sheriff Dauzat added, “If the call sounds suspicious, it probably is. Hang up and call us back on our official line.”
To protect against these widespread phone and mail fraud attempts, remember the following:
- No Gift Cards or Wire Transfers: legitimate government agencies do not accept payment via gift cards (like Green Dot, iTunes, or Amazon), cryptocurrency, or wire transfers. If a caller asks for this, it is a scam.
- Don’t Trust Caller ID: Scammers can “spoof” phone numbers so that the Caller ID looks like it is coming from the Sheriff’s Office. Even if the number looks real, hang up and dial the number back to check.
- Don’t Share Personal Info: Never give out Social Security number, bank account details, or date of birth to an unsolicited caller.
For emergencies, always dial 911. For non-emergencies, contact our office at (318) 253-4000 or via email at info@AvoyellesSO.org.