SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — The scam begins with the caller saying they’re with the Sioux Falls Sheriff’s Department, which doesn’t exist.

“They explained to this woman that she had several warrants and needed to pay $3,000 and when she said she didn’t have that money, they lowered it down to $2,000,” said Police Spokesman Sam Clemens.

10 Commandments in SD schools clears 1st step

This is the first red flag: the amount of money keeps changing.

“At some point during the conversation, she said she’d come down to the sheriff’s office to get it straightened out. They then told her that she would immediately go to jail if that was the case,” said Clemens.

That threat of going to jail is the second red flag.

“Part of the thing during this process, they explained to her that there was what they called a gag order that prevented her from speaking to anybody about this,” said Clemens.

If a caller doesn’t want you to talk to anyone else, police say that’s also a warning sign.

“So they’re very good about keeping her on the line, keeping her kind of moving this forward,” said Clemens.

In the latest case, the caller convinced the victim to stay on the phone, until someone at her bank let her know it was a scam and ended the call.