Harford County Sheriff's Office Warns Of Scam

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — Has someone called to tell you that there is an open warrant for your arrest? The Harford County Sheriff's Office wants you to know that this is a scam.

"The Harford County Sheriff's office does not call citizens to tell them they have an open warrant," officials said in a statement. "Additionally, we would never require you to pay money through a phone call in order to satisfy a warrant."

So if someone has called and said there's a warrant or you need to pay to make it go away, it is not the real deal.

"If you receive one of these calls, it is a SCAM," the Harford County Sheriff's Office said in a statement, adding: "Please share this message with friends and family. Stay safe!"

Sometimes scammers spoof local phone numbers, including those of law enforcement agencies, according to the Federal Communications Commission.

These "warrant scams" have been reported nationwide, from Massachusetts to California. Officials advise hanging up immediately because the scammers will work to keep people on the line to convince individuals they are at risk.

Warrants are typically served in person.

Those who have received calls from scammers may file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.

Here are tips from the feds to avoid becoming a victim:

• Don't answer calls from unknown numbers.
• If you do answer, don't hang on — hang up.
• Do not give out personal information, including your Social Security number or mother's maiden name.