The Butler County Sheriff’s Office is urging residents to be aware of phone scams involving bogus payments of gift cards by mail.

According to Deputy Mike Peffer, a person who had been scammed showed up Friday at the Sheriff’s Office attempting to pay a fake fine with gift cards.

The victim told Peffer a caller identified himself as a deputy and demanded payment.

Peffer said he called the number back and the scammer was very aggressive and hung up as soon as he realized the victim was not on the phone.

Peffer said law enforcement — whether the Sheriff’s Office, state police or municipal police — do not accept payments and never in the form of gift cards.

The scammers sometimes tell victims they are wanted for a crime or have missed jury duty and try to get people to pay fake fines, he said. The rattled victim is then instructed to buy gift cards and mail them to the caller.

Peffer urged residents to be cautious and contact the office the request for money supposedly came from.

“Call that office for verification. It can be quickly done,” Peffer said.

The number for the Sheriff’s Office is 724-284-5245.