Cumberland, MD – The Allegany County Sheriff’s Office alerts residents to fraudulent phone calls by scammers posing as law enforcement to extort money. Various iterations of this scam, happening locally and nationwide, involve fake officers claiming victims face arrest due to missed court dates or fines, prompting immediate payment to evade jail time.
These scammers use “spoofing” to mimic legitimate law enforcement contacts.
Victims are urged to promptly hang up on any such calls and refrain from disclosing personal or financial details. The Sheriff’s Office emphasizes that genuine deputies would never demand money over the phone under threat of arrest.
Individuals falling prey to this scam are advised to inform their financial institution and contact local law enforcement immediately about the incident.