The Ruston Police Department issued an alert Monday warning of yet another phone scam targeting local businesses.
According to police, scammers are calling businesses posing as Federal Express (FedEx) representatives. The scammer claims a recent payment for a shipment has “bounced” and instructs employees to send money through Bitcoin or other nontraditional methods.
Police emphasize FedEx and other delivery services do not call customers demanding immediate payment through cryptocurrency, gift cards, or wire transfers.
Business owners are urged to stay vigilant and take precautions to avoid falling victim to scams. RPD recommends never giving payment information to unsolicited callers and verifying any claims by contacting FedEx or other businesses directly using official contact information from account statements or the company’s website.
Officials also warn businesses to be cautious of high-pressure tactics or threats, such as claims deliveries will be suspended. Employees who answer phones or handle invoices should be trained to recognize common scam tactics, and sensitive information, including account numbers, banking details and employee data, should never be shared with unknown callers.
Common red flags include demands for immediate payment, requests to pay using cryptocurrency, gift cards or wire transfers, threats of legal action or suspended deliveries, and suspicious caller ID information that does not match official FedEx contacts.
Anyone receiving a suspicious call is encouraged to hang up immediately and verify the request through official channels before taking any action.
Those who believe they have encountered a scam are encouraged to report it to local law enforcement and share the warning with employees and coworkers to help prevent others from becoming victims.
For the latest local news, subscribe FOR FREE to the Lincoln Parish Journal and receive an email each weekday morning at 6:55 right to your inbox. Just CLICK HERE to sign up.
