Phone Scam Swindles Money From Howard County Residents

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — In light of a phone scam happening recently in Howard County, the police department reminds residents that the county sheriff's office and the police department would never ask for payment over the phone.

The Howard County Police Department has received multiple reports about phone scams where the caller pretends to be from the sheriff's office and uses the name of a real deputy.

"In recent cases, Sheriff Harris' name was even used to seem more legitimate," the Howard County Sheriff's Office stated.

Many of the reports came from senior citizens who were told that there is a warrant for their arrest for missed grand jury duty. Victims are told they must pay a fine over the phone and are directed to use Green Dot or ReLoadIt prepaid cards.

“The Howard County Sheriff's Office will never demand payment over the phone,” said Howard County Sheriff Marcus Harris, “and neither will the Howard County Police Department. Be on guard if you don’t know the caller. Don't feel pressured to make a decision on the spot, and never give out personal or financial information over the phone.”

Similar scams have involved impostors claiming to be with the IRS and BGE, the police department noted.

Anyone who believes they may have been a victim of a telephone scam are asked to call police at 410-313-2200 or file an online police report at www.hcpd.org.