CORNING, N.Y. (WENY) -- The Corning Police Department just issued a warning that phone scammers are posing as local law enforcement. 

Police say the scams vary in nature, but that generally a scammer will identify themselves as law enforcement, and tell victims they owe money for some legal reason that must be paid immediately in order to avoid arrest. 

Scammers are using the names of real police officers and are disguising their numbers on caller ID functions in order to fool people.  Corning Police Department is reminding everyone that no legitimate law enforcement agency will ever call demanding immediate payment. 

If you think you are being scammed by someone posing as law enforcement, hang up and call local police.