Ville Platte Police Chief warns of scam calls

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The Ville Platte Police Department has received multiple reports of people who have been contacted and instructed to purchase a Google Play card or some other type of gift cards and submit the information to the caller.
Chief Neal Lartigue would like residents and businesses to watch for these type of scams. No one should be contacting you by phone or email to make arrangements for you to purchase any type of card for them. Legitimate businesses will not handle their business this way. Law enforcement will not call to threaten a warrant or to arrest someone if money is not sent and government agencies do not call and harass you to send money.
These scammers will spoof a number to make it appear local or legitimate, but, most of the time, it is fraud. If you receive a call from someone who is asking for personal information or to purchase any type of gift or money card, it is perfectly acceptable to hang up on the scammer and refuse to speak to them. Please do not give out any personal information to anyone over the phone unless you are speaking directly to someone whom you know and trust.
Business owners and employees are asked to watch out for vulnerable and elderly customers if you feel they are being scammed. Please try to explain to them that it is a scam and if they do not understand then please call for an officer to go help them.
To report suspicious or illegal activity to the Ville Platte Police Department administration by calling 363-1316. Your call will remain anonymous. For non emergency dispatch call 363-1313 or 911 for emergencies.