MOSES LAKE — A scammer is attempting to defraud several local residents by posing as a deputy and informing them they have a warrant out for their arrest.

The Moses Lake Police Department says several city residents have received calls from a person claiming to be “Deputy Duane Davis” and informing them they missed jury duty and are wanted by the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.

The scammer reportedly informed people that to get out of the warrant they have to fork over money. The caller reportedly transfers people to a “lieutenant in records,” whom the MLPD says sounds similar to the person claiming to be Duane Davis.

On Tuesday alone the MLPD received at least three calls from residents who had been contacted by the scammer. The phone number used by the scammer is reportedly not in the Grant County database used by local police agencies. The number has been traced to Asotin County, but Asotin County’s dispatch advised they were not able to locate the phone number in their database.

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.