FROM TOPEKA POLICE -- This afternoon officers of the Topeka Police Department have received several calls from Topeka residents looking for information, or wanting to file a report, reference a possible scam.

In all cases the callers report being called vie telephone by persons who stated that they representatives of a collections agency. The person saying they were with the collections agency would demand the person's Social Security number to "clear up" money that they stated was owed to the agency, and advised they would have the person arrested for refusing to give this information.

These calls are obviously "phishing" scams to facilitate identity theft. Under no circumstances should anyone give out their Social Security number to anyone over the phone, no matter who they say they are. No legitimate agency of any kind would ask for information in this manner. The threat of arrest for owing money to another person, company or agency is also false. There is no legal mechanism for the arrest of any person for owing money to another person without there being court proceedings and a warrant being signed by a judge.

Anyone contacted by phone and asked to give out their Social Security number, or any other personal information, is urged to refuse this request and to hang up on the caller.