Scammers Target Older Residents In Anne Arundel County: Police

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD — Scammers are preying on older Anne Arundel County residents, police warned Thursday. Officers said the fraudsters are calling vulnerable populations and posing as loved ones.

The criminals claim to be a younger relative who was arrested and in need of bail. One thief posed as the courier service for a fictitious lawyer, an incident report added.

The recipient of that call complied and transferred "a large amount of funds" to the scammer, police noted. Officers have heard two other complaints of the scheme, but neither informant fell for the fraud.

Police reminded residents that they should never immediately send bail money. Take time to verify the claim, they advised.

"Please share this information with relatives and friends, especially those who may not have access to social media," officers said. "These scams are taking advantage of folks who naturally want to help their relatives and may not be able to recognize that the caller is not who they say they are."

The Anne Arundel County Police Department asked residents to report these calls by dialing 410-222-8610.

Have a story idea? Please contact me at jacob.baumgart@patch.com with any pitches, tips or questions. Follow me on Twitter @JacobBaumgart and on Facebook @JacobBaumgartJournalist to stay up-to-date with the latest Anne Arundel County and Prince George's County news.