Winona authorities are telling local residents to be on the lookout for a scam involving text messages telling recipients there is a warrant out for their arrest.
                   
Police Officer Kevin Kearney says some residents in southeastern Minnesota have received a text messages telling them to call a phone number to confirm that there is a warrant.
                  
When the number is called, a person on the other end asks the caller to make a payment as soon as they can so the warrant... for failing to show up for jury duty... can be quashed. The payment sought is usually $500.
                  
Kearney says while Winona police have not taken any reports of these phony texts being received locally, they would like area residents to be aware of the texts.  Kearney says it you receive one of these texts ignore it and do not call the phone number listed. Instead call the Police or Sheriff's Department.
                 
If you have any questions you can contact Kearney at 457-6249.  Kearney says in Winona and Winona County, legitimate warrants are served in person by law enforcement. Residents are never informed of a warrant by a text message.