The police department tasked with protecting the University of Colorado Colorado Springs student body has issued a warning that scammers are using threatening phone calls to try to scam students.

The UCCS Police Department issued the warning on social media Tuesday evening, warning of scammers posing as police officers calling people up and advising them to pay fines or face imminent arrest due to outstanding warrants or missed jury duty.

In at least one case the scammers were faking their call actually coming from the real UCCS police dispatch number of (719) 255-3111.

The police department says that it will never demand payment over the phone or threaten arrest in such a manner. Anyone receiving a threatening call purportedly from the department should hang up, and call the dispatch number.

This type of impersonation fraud has been used in the Pikes Peak region previously. This spring the FBI sent out a general warning about this type of criminal scheme, and in late February the Colorado Springs police sent out a public warning that several city residents had received fraudulent calls from city police impersonators.

In all cases, authorities recommend to hang up and immediately call the law enforcement agency in question directly.

To report one of these scams to the Colorado Springs Police Department call 719-444-7000.