The Louisiana State Police (LSP)  and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) are warning residents about a couple of telephone scams that is bilking thousands of people out of their money. 

In regard to the scam involving the LSP, impersonators are reportedly contacting the phones of potential victims by making a call that gives the appearance of originating from a phone number belonging to the Louisiana State Police.

Troopers say citizens should never give unsolicited callers any personal information, and that the Louisiana State Police would never ask for any type of payment or monetary donation over the phone.

The BBB also warns about a scheme where perpetrators are posing as debt collectors.  According to Jo Ann Deal of the BBB, it all boils down to knowing your rights as it pertains to debt collection as prescribed by the Fair Debt Collection Protection Act (FDCPA). 

Under the FDCPA, scammers can’t:

Contact you before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m., unless you agree to it.
Contact you at work if you tell them you’re not allowed to get calls there.
Contact you by email or text message if you ask them to stop.
Call you more than seven times within a seven-day period or within seven days after talking with you by phone about a particular debt.
Privately message you on social media if you ask them to stop.

It is also advised to never to pay anything over the phone without written proof of debt in hand. 

Citizens wishing to report suspected fraudulent calls can contact the Louisiana State Analytical and Fusion Center (LA-SAFE) at 225-925-4192 or the BBB office in Monroe at (318) 387-4600.

The Louisiana State Police online reporting system is also available to the public through a convenient and secure reporting form that is submitted to the appropriate investigators. Citizens can access the form by visiting the LA-SAFE website at la-safe.org and clicking the “report suspicious activity” link.