RIPON — Criminals posing on the telephone as relatives who have been arrested and are in need of money to get out of jail have been on the increase, according to the Ripon Police Department.

Often the caller has camouflaged his or her voice by hysterical crying in asking for funds to be telegraphed to get them out of jail – often claiming to be a grandson in trouble. Some of the calls have come from Canada.

Callers also claiming to represent a bank or insurance company have been asking for personal information from residents for criminal reasons, reported Ripon Police First Sergeant Steve Merchant.

Merchant cautioned residents of the community that their bank, insurance company or credit card company will never ask for personal information over the phone or on the Internet.  They already have this information, he advised.

Anyone believing that they or a relative or friend has been victim of an ID theft should contact the Ripon Police Department at 599-2102 immediately and speak to an officer.