Hagerstown, MD – Residents in Washington County are being warned about an active phone scam involving individuals impersonating sheriff’s deputies and demanding money.
According to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the scammer claims to be “Lt. Swick” and uses caller ID spoofing to make it appear that the call is coming from law enforcement. Authorities confirmed the caller is not associated with the department and emphasized that the number provided does not connect to the sheriff’s office.
In these fraudulent calls, the scammer may say the recipient has missed jury duty or has an outstanding warrant. To avoid arrest, the caller allegedly instructs victims to send cash, deposit money at a Bitcoin ATM, purchase gift cards and provide the numbers, or transfer money through apps such as Zelle, Cash App, or Venmo.
Law enforcement officials warned that even if the caller uses the name of a real officer, provides a legitimate-looking number, or shares personal information such as an address, the call is still a scam.
The sheriff’s office reminded residents:
- Real deputies will never call to inform someone of an impending arrest or threaten legal action if they hang up.
- Authentic officers will not demand payment through gift cards, cryptocurrency, or money transfer apps as a way to “buy out” of a warrant or fine.
Authorities urge anyone receiving such calls to hang up immediately and not call the number back. To verify information, residents should directly contact their local law enforcement office using a trusted phone number or official website.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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