By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – The Alabaster Police Department is warning locals about a telephone scam affecting the area, and said it will never contact individuals to collect money for fines or warrants.

According to a post on the APD Facebook page, the department has had multiple complaints regarding the scam throughout the city.

Through the scam, a caller contacts a victim and claims to be an Alabaster Police Department employee.

The caller then claims the victim owes the department money for a missed court date, jury duty or other reason, and demands a money order, gift card, cash card or some other form of payment for the alleged infraction.

Alabaster police encouraged people who receive the call to never provide any personal information or payment to the caller.

“APD does not collect money for fines, warrants, etc., in this manner,” read the department’s Facebook post. “Fines are paid to the Alabaster Municipal Court. APD does not call citizens and ask for payment on a warrant, fine, etc., by telephone. This is a scam.”

APD encouraged locals to share the information with friends and family members to help them be aware of the scam, especially elderly individuals, “as they are often the target of these type scams.”