Sophisticated Arrest Scam in Lexington

The Middlesex Sheriff’s Office on Friday issued an alert in response to a sophisticated arrest scam that targeted Lexington residents.

The telephone scam involves the caller threatening to arrest a victim for a fictional debt. In some cases, the caller’s number appears to be from the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office or other law enforcement agencies. The caller then tries to get the victim to buy a MoneyPak or GreenDot card to pay the debt.

“No legitimate law enforcement agency will ever threaten arrest over the phone,” Middlesex Sheriff Peter Koutoujian said in a statement.”

Koutoukian said police in Acton, Lexington, and Cambridge have received reports of the scam.

“In some instances the callers are managing to spoof the telephone numbers of my office or other law enforcement agencies making it appear as if the calls are coming from these departments,” he added.

Photo: File