LAFAYETTE PARISH, LA — A recent surge in police impersonation scams has left residents in Lafayette Parish vulnerable to fraud, with victims losing thousands of dollars in the past several weeks. The Lafayette Police Department (LPD) has reported an alarming increase in these schemes, with around 15 cases surfacing over the last six weeks alone.
Fraudsters have been using sophisticated tactics, such as caller ID spoofing, to make their calls appear legitimate. Additionally, scammers have been impersonating real law enforcement officers from both the Lafayette Police Department and the Lafayette Sheriff’s Office, making the schemes even more convincing.
One of the most troubling examples shared by LPD came from Sergeant Robin Green, a department spokesperson. Green revealed that a scammer, posing as her, contacted a captain’s sister and requested money for a supposed fundraiser. In another instance, a woman was tricked into believing she had missed jury duty and needed to immediately pay a fine. This deception led to the woman losing $3,000 before she realized the scam.
As a result of the scam involving the woman, arrest warrants have been issued for three individuals, including one woman from Marrero who has been charged with extortion.
Sergeant Green emphasized that the police department will never ask for money over the phone. “If you need to pay a fine for a missed court date, jury duty, or even a ticket, you would never be asked to pay via a kiosk at a convenience store or wire money to an unknown account,” Green said. “Those fines should always be paid directly at the courthouse.”
Local authorities are urging the public to be vigilant and avoid providing personal or financial information over the phone. Residents are advised to verify the caller’s identity by directly contacting the relevant agency or company. If anyone receives a suspicious call, they should report it to law enforcement immediately.
The rise in these scams has highlighted the importance of community awareness and the need for residents to be cautious when dealing with unsolicited phone calls, particularly those involving requests for money. Police continue to investigate the cases, but they stress that preventing further fraud relies on residents’ awareness and caution.