Crime & Safety

Montgomery Residents Called by Scammers Posing as Deputies

Someone is calling Montgomery County residents claiming to be a sheriff's deputy as part of a scam to extort money.

Scammers are calling Montgomery County residents to threaten the arrest of the resident if they don't immediately pay cash, warns Sheriff Darren M. Popkin.

The scammer is claiming that a warrant has been issued for the resident's arrest and the only way to prevent the warrant from being served is to pay up immediately, says Bethesda Now.

"Montgomery County Deputy Sheriffs will never call and threaten to arrest you unless you immediately send an electronic payment,"  said Sheriff Popkin in a press release. "Deputies will never ask you to place funds for payment on a pre-paid card to cancel an arrest warrant."

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The scammers often sound "official" by providing their name and rank to victims. They may also ask for personal information so that the victim's name can be "cleared." OCP cautions residents to never provide personal information over the phone, especially when getting an unsolicited call.

If you have received a call from someone claiming to be a Montgomery County (MD) Deputy Sheriff, contact the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office at 240.777.7000.

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The Sheriff's Office is asking that victims save any recorded messages, record the date and time of the phone call, the purported name of the caller, the call back number, and their phone number as displayed on Caller ID.

If you have been a victim of a scam, contact the Office of Consumer Protection at 240.777.3636 or visit their website at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/OCP.


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