News File Photo An Alpena County Sheriff's Office patch appears on the shoulder of a deputy in this November 2021 News File Photo.

ALPENA — Police will never call to tell you you’re in trouble, the Alpena County Sheriff’s Office wants you to know.

A woman on Wednesday told that office she had lost $700 to a scammer who identified himself on the phone as an Alpena County deputy.

The man said police had a warrant for the woman’s arrest for failure to appear in court.

She could stay out of jail, the scammer said, by purchasing “MoneyPak” cards and providing the number on the cards as a bond payment.

“And she’s out $700,” said Alpena County Sheriff Erik Smith, cautioning residents against such scams.

Technology allows scammers to scramble phone numbers, and residents could receive phone calls that appear to come from an Alpena police agency, he said.

The scam caller on Wednesday used Alpena-specific details, including the name of court personnel, to further fool the caller.

Such calls may rattle the person answering them just enough to make them fall for a scam, and scammers prey on that uncertainty.

If a caller threatens arrest or asks for money, residents can contact police and see if that information is valid, but they should never send money, Smith said.

“If police are going to pick you up on a warrant,” he said, “they’re not going to call.”