Scammers have been impersonating officers in a phone scam to deceive residents into sending money, the Paso Robles Police Department warned Monday.

The con artists, calling from different phone numbers, use technology to make the caller ID display "Paso Robles Police Department," the release said.

In some cases, the scammers used real officers' names and badge numbers to sound more credible, according to the release.

Posing as police officers, the scammers tell victims over the phone they must make payments often in the form of gift cards to avoid arrest for various charges like missing jury duty, the release said.

"These calls are not from the Paso Robles Police Department and are entirely fraudulent," the release said. "The department will never call individuals with threats of arrest or demands for payment of any kind."

In the release, the Paso Robles Police Department reminded residents never to share personal information over the phone and encouraged anyone who receives a suspicious call from someone claiming to be a police officer to contact the department directly at 805-237-6464.