Wind Advisory
from SAT 12:00 PM MST until SAT 10:00 PM MST, Western Pima County including Ajo/Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Tohono O'odham Nation including Sells, Upper Santa Cruz River and Altar Valleys including Nogales, Tucson Metro Area including Tucson/Green Valley/Marana/Vail, South Central Pinal County including Eloy/Picacho Peak State Park, Southeast Pinal County including Kearny/Mammoth/Oracle, Upper San Pedro River Valley including Sierra Vista/Benson, Eastern Cochise County below 5000 ft including Douglas/Wilcox, Upper Gila River and Aravaipa Valleys including Clifton/Safford, White Mountains of Graham and Greenlee Counties including Hannagan Meadow, Galiuro and Pinaleno Mountains including Mount Graham, Chiricahua Mountains including Chiricahua National Monument, Dragoon/Mule/Huachuca and Santa Rita Mountains including Bisbee/Canelo Hills/Madera Canyon, Santa Catalina and Rincon Mountains including Mount Lemmon/Summerhaven, Baboquivari Mountains including Kitt Peak, Kofa, Central La Paz, Aguila Valley, Southeast Yuma County, Gila River Valley, Northwest Valley, Tonopah Desert, Gila Bend, Buckeye/Avondale, Cave Creek/New River, Deer Valley, Central Phoenix, North Phoenix/Glendale, New River Mesa, Scottsdale/Paradise Valley, Rio Verde/Salt River, East Valley, Fountain Hills/East Mesa, South Mountain/Ahwatukee, Southeast Valley/Queen Creek, Superior, Northwest Pinal County, West Pinal County, Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, Tonto Basin, Mazatzal Mountains, Pinal/Superstition Mountains, Sonoran Desert Natl Monument, San Carlos, Dripping Springs, Globe/Miami, Southeast Gila County

Scammers impersonating DEA employees are calling victims demanding money, threatening arrest

FILE - A logo reading DEA Special Agent is pictured in the Office of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on May 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by JOHANNES EISELE/AFP via Getty Images)

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is warning members of the public to be on the lookout for phone calls by scammers impersonating DEA employees attempting to defraud and/or extort those receiving the calls. 

According to the agency, the scammers call their victims apparently spoofing DEA phone numbers in an attempt to appear legitimate, demanding the victim pay a fine over the phone either through a wire transfer or gift card. 

The scammers are reportedly threatening their victims with arrest, prosecution and imprisonment for supposed crimes regarding federal drug laws, as well as alleging the victims’ involvement in supposed drug-trafficking activities. 

The DEA warned that the scam callers use fake names and badge numbers or even real names of well-known DEA officials in order to intimidate their victims. 

RELATED: Small Business Administration watchdog report cites ‘serious concerns’ over ‘widespread’ COVID-19 relief fraud

“The best deterrence against these bad actors is awareness and caution. Anyone receiving this type of call from a person purporting to be with DEA should report that contact using our online form or by calling 877-792-2873,” the DEA said in a press release.

The agency is urging citizens to be wary of potential fraudulent activity and to be aware that DEA personnel would never contact members of the public by telephone requesting sensitive information or demanding any forms of payment.