MARION, Ill. (WJPF) – Marion Police are warning all residents to be on the alert for scams in which con-artists pose as a police officer.

On Wednesday, August 10, a Marion woman received a phone call in which the person on the other end of the line claimed to be a law enforcement officer and told the woman she would be arrested if she didn’t withdraw $35,000 from a bank and then place the cash in an envelope on her front porch. The woman did as she was told and a few hours later, a person picked up the money. Police do not think the woman will get that money back.

Marion Police say the woman later became suspicious and contacted the actual authorities. While the woman was on the phone with the real police officers, she received another call from a con artist. This time they claimed to be a federal agent and $55,000 again be placed in an envelope on the woman’s front porch.

With the help of Marion Police, the woman pretended to withdraw money from the bank, place it in an envelope, and leave it on her front porch. At about 10:30 p.m. Thursday, Marion Police say a Georgia man, 50-year-old Samir Mehta, pulled into the woman’s driveway and picked up what he thought was an envelope full of cash. Instead, police were watching and he was arrested and taken to the Williamson County Jail.

Marion Police are advising all residents to be on the alert for similar scams and are reminding everyone that law enforcement will never call demanding immediate cash payment.