COEUR d'ALENE - Elderly county residents are being targeted in a scam involving a man claiming to be a police officer.

On Tuesday, the Coeur d'Alene Police Department received 10 fraud complaints within two hours. Each of the callers stated they were contacted by a man who said he was from the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office and were asked why they didn't show up for jury duty. The man then told them there was a warrant for their arrest that would be served unless they came up with $2,000.

"These people will abuse our names to get money from people," said Sgt. Christie Wood, Coeur d'Alene police spokeswoman.

According to Wood, almost all of the fraud complaints came from residents more than 80 years old who were told by the scammer they needed to go to a supermarket and buy a Green Dot card, which is similar to a gift card. Once the Green Dot card is purchased, the scammer told them to call him back and provide him with the card number.

Residents received two different Pocatello phone numbers from the scammer, who claimed to be Maj. Wilson or Lt. Frank Harris.

Wood encouraged any resident who experiences a similar phone call to contact law enforcement immediately.

"Any time something doesn't feel right, just call us and we will talk you through it," Wood said. "We are available 24 hours a day."