Middlesex County Sheriff's Office Warns Of New Subpoena Scam

MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MA — The Middlesex Sheriff’s Office is warning residents of a new twist on an old scam. Scammers call residents, posing as Middlesex County Sheriff's Office members, asking for payment on a failed subpoena response.

The sheriff's office received a call on Wednesday from a resident who said a scammer called her posing as a member of the sheriff's office. The scammer wasn't perfect in his execution as he used the name of a retired Middlesex County, New Jersey officer – and said he was seeking to collect bond money for her alleged failure to respond to a subpoena.

Recognizing the call was a scam, the woman hung up. The man then called back a second time, with “Middlesex Sheriff’s Office” showing on the woman’s caller ID. In previous scams, individuals have used spoofing technology to display telephone numbers associated with legitimate law enforcement agencies.

This scam is similar to previously reported ones in which callers pose as members of law enforcement, the IRS or the courts, claiming warrants have been issued for residents’ failure to pay taxes or perform jury duty. The imposters will tell those they have called that they can avoid arrest if they pay an immediate fine.

“As these scams evolve and spread, it’s critical that residents be aware of the underlying similarities so that they can protect themselves and their hard-earned money,” said Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian. “In this case, the intended victim immediately recognized this was a scam and notified us, allowing us to alert the public.”