WBRZ - Baton Rouge

KENNER - Some Kenner residents received pre-recorded telephone calls this week indicating that a family member was arrested or involved in a serious accident.

It was a scam, according to the Kenner Police Department.

A spokesman for the department said Thursday the calls are apparently an attempt to "hijack" phones so the scammers can make collect calls.

Lt. Wayne McInnis said the calls included a request to dial a long distance number that began with a star. McInnis said one person who did so ended up forwarding his phone to Los Angeles.