Warning: Phone Scam Caller Claims to Be State Police

ANNAPOLIS, MD — If you receive a phone call from someone claiming to be a Maryland State Police barrack commander who threatens you with arrest unless you pay up — it's a scam.

State Police are warning residents not to fall for the bogus call, and above all, don't send the suspect any money.

A woman in her 70s from Allegany County called the Maryland State Police Rockville Barrack Tuesday night to report she had received multiple calls from a man with a "heavy foreign" accent. He told her she owed $800 and would be arrested if she did not quickly forward him the money. Fortunately, the woman hung up on the caller each time.

The caller ID on her phone showed the call came from 301-424-2101, which is the publicly listed phone number for the Maryland State Police Rockville Barrack. The woman said the caller claimed to be Lt. Dan Pickett, who is the commander of the Rockville Barrack.

Maryland State Police do not collect fines for traffic or criminal offenses. Those fines are collected by Maryland’s court system. No one in the Maryland State Police would place a call to someone and threaten arrest if a fine was not forwarded immediately to officers, the agency says.

State Police are investigating this case of fraud and telephone misuse.

Anyone who received similar calls from someone claiming to be from the Maryland State Police is asked to contact Sergeant Heath at 410-761-5130, or by email at msp.centralsouth@maryland.gov. The State Police Criminal Enforcement Division Tips Line is 888-210-1450. Callers may remain anonymous.