(CENTREVILLE) – The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Office is warning the public about a scam.

Sheriff Chad Spence says his office is receiving reports of a recurring scam in which callers pose as Deputies or Officers of law enforcement agencies. The scammers falsely identify themselves as Officers and often use the actual names of certified Officers.

The scammers appear to be targeting elderly individuals who are on the Michigan Sex Offender Registry. They demand immediate payment for fines related to prior convictions and direct the individual to submit an updated DNA sample at their local law enforcement agency.

Spence says local law enforcement will never contact you by phone or social media to demand payment to avoid fines, penalties, or imprisonment.

If you receive a call like what is described, Spence says immediately hang up and block the caller’s number.

If you were a victim of a scam or lost money because of the scam, please contact St. Joseph County Central Dispatch at 269-467-4195 to file a police report.