CARBONDALE, Ill. (WJPF) – A scam artist is posing as a retired Carbondale Police officer.

Carbondale Police say they received multiple reports over the weekend of a phone scam in which the caller identifies themself as a Sergeant from the Carbondale Police Department, tells the victim that they’ve broken the law and immediate payment is needed to remedy the situation. To make the con more believable, the scammer even uses the name of an actual sergeant retired from the Carbondale Police Department.

Carbondale Police say law enforcement will never call and demand immediate payment. And you should not call back the number that called you.

If you receive one of these scam phone calls, you should hang up and then report it to the actual Carbondale Police at (618) 457-3200.