Residents are encouraged to remain aware of a phone scam that solicits money to prevent arrest.
Scammers are calling locals saying they're "Deputy Thompson" with the Benton County Sheriff's Office and that there's a warrant for their arrest.
The scammer goes on to say the call recipient has missed jury duty and must pay money over the phone to avoid being arrested. Residents are sometimes asked to meet the scammer in the sheriff's office parking lot.
Although the phone numbers being used by the scammers change often, the sheriff's's office said the scams stay close to the same.
Authorities reassure citizens that they will not meet people in the parking lot to do business and won't take money over the phone. Instead, representatives from the sheriff's office would ask people to come inside the office to talk.
Those receiving similar calls from scammers are asked to hang up the phone and call their local law enforcement agency.
NW News on 12/05/2018