FBI Warns: Essex County Sheriff's Office Scammer 'Spoofing' Residents

DANVERS, MA — The Federal Bureau of Investigation on Tuesday issued a warning to North Shore residents about another scam where someone who claims to be calling on behalf of the Essex County Sheriff's Department demands money to settle a debt or pay a fine.

This is the second time the Essex Sheriff's Office has issued a similar warning in recent months and comes a week after the Marblehead Police Department asked for the help of local banks and financial institutions in intervening when it is believed an elderly resident may be withdrawing large amounts of money to pay someone orchestrating a scam.

The FBI said the latest Essex Sheriff's Department scam involves someone calling from a number that is "spoofed" to make it appear it is coming directly from the department when that is not the case.

The FBI said the caller identifies himself as Lt. Steve Wilkins.

"If you get one of these calls, hang up," the FBI said in a statement. "The Essex County Sheriff's Department will never call and ask for money."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)