JEFFERSON CITY − The Jefferson City Police Department says it has seen an increase in the number of calls directing individuals to deposit funds in cryptocurrency kiosks. 

Police say scammers have directed their calls to both individual citizens as well as employees at local businesses. They also have broadened their directions to claim to be owners of legitimate business or within law enforcement or a federal agency, according to JCPD. 

Scammers might say an individual will be arrested, fined or deported if you do not pay for warrants or some other debt right away. Police say their goal is to scare an individual into paying. 

Real law enforcement and federal agencies will not call and threaten an individual, nor will ask for payment over the phone for a warrant.