Police are warning the public about a telephone scam in the town of Orange.

Police say the scammers have cloned the department's telephone number and are trying to convince people that they have an arrest warrant with Orange police that can only be vacated by buying gift cards.

Law enforcement officials say the obvious scam has led to many residents calling the police to report the call. 

Police suggest hanging up and reporting the scammers to the authorities immediately.

Police say the public should never buy gift cards to pay someone who's called you, and that police will never ask for gift cards as a way to vacate an active arrest warrant. 

They add that it's very difficult or maybe even impossible to recover money once it has been given to scammers.