Scammers Impersonating Prince George's Sheriff's Deputies, Authorities Warn

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — Residents are reminded not to give money or other forms of payment to phone scammers who pose as deputies from the county sheriff's office.

The current scam affecting Prince George's County residents involves callers falsely telling victims they have an outstanding warrant for failing to appear in court. The caller tells the victim to stay on the phone while they help them resolve the issue, the county sheriff's office stated.

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The victims are then "aggressively pressured" to immediately pay their fraudulent court costs or fine with gift cards or Bitcoin in order to avoid being arrested or other legal repercussions.

The Prince George's County Office of the Sheriff will never:

• Call to demand payment to resolve a warrant or legal matter.
• Request personal or financial information over the phone.
• Direct anyone to purchase gift cards, send cryptocurrency or meet in a parking lot to avoid arrest.

Anyone who believes they have been targeted or victimized should promptly call the Prince George's County Police Department, notify their financial institution and consider placing a fraud alert or credit freeze with the major credit reporting agencies to help protect their identity, the sheriff's office stated.

The Prince George's County Office of the Sheriff encourages residents to share this information with family members, friends and neighbors, especially older adults, who are often targeted by scammers.