Sex Offenders Targeted In Phone Scam: Baltimore County Police

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — Sex offenders are the target of a phone scam in Baltimore County, according to police. Officials said Maryland is one of several states where scammers have been calling people listed on the sex offender registry pretending to be law enforcement officers, threatening arrest or charges unless the person makes a payment.

The caller says that the sex offender has missed a scheduled court date or is in some way negligent in fulfilling the legal requirements associated with being on the registry and must send a payment or buy gift cards to avoid being arrested or charged.

Police said that the scammers may even provide a callback number going to a voicemail that is made to sound like it belongs to a law enforcement agency.

"It is important for all residents to know that no police agency, including Baltimore County Police Department, will ever solicit any person for any type of payment to avoid arrest or any type of criminal enforcement action," officials said in a statement.

"All calls requesting payment in the form of gift cards, specifically, are scams," police said.

This scam was reported in December and has resurfaced this summer, the Baltimore County Police Department reported Tuesday, Aug. 6.

Anyone who has become a victim of this scam can report it to the Baltimore County Police Department's non-emergency line at 410-887-2222 or by calling 911.

The Federal Trade Commission also offers a page on phone fraud that gives information about other scams that have been reported nationwide.