(Silver City, NM) – SCAM ALERT: The Grant County Sheriff's Office, along with other surrounding agencies, has been receiving calls from residents in our area that they have won prizes or have warrants for their arrest.

The caller tells the people in order to collect the prizes they need to send money first so they can send the winnings to them and the one about the warrants to go get a pre-paid card at Wal-Mart so they can cancel the warrant. They also make threats that police are on the way to arrest them if they don't get a pre-paid card. A lot of times the caller has information about you that you wouldn't think they would have.

If you receive a call from anybody requesting any personal information or bank account information it is more than likely a scam. Sheriff Raul Villanueva is encouraging citizens if you get a call like this to verify the information before you send anything or give any information.

You should never give out personal information to a caller.

If you need assistance you can also contact Central Dispatch at 575-388-8840 so they can dispatch an officer to you.

Note: Law Enforcement will not call you on a pending warrant or request any payment.