NORWICH – The New York State Police are warning local residents of a new phone and e-mail scam aimed at securing an individual’s credit card number or cash via money order or Western Union.

The scam involves a phone call or e-mail from a fictitious law firm, attorney, loan service or credit card agency stating that a warrant will be issued for the victim’s arrest if a specific sum of money is not received immediately.

There have been at least two cases reported locally to date, said authorities, one in which an unsuspecting victim was actually e-mailed a copy of a fraudulent arrest warrant.