Cambridge, MA – Residents across Middlesex County are being urged to stay alert today after the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office reported more than 10 scam calls in just a matter of hours. Officials say the rapid spike prompted an immediate public warning as callers attempted to impersonate law enforcement to obtain money.
According to the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office, none of the residents who received the fraudulent calls lost money. However, the scams involved familiar red flags: threats of arrest, demands for immediate payment, and requests for gift cards as a supposed form of settling legal issues. Officials stressed that the sheriff’s office will never call residents to demand payment of any kind.
The reports began coming in throughout the day Wednesday, with residents from multiple communities across Middlesex County describing nearly identical tactics. Scammers allegedly claimed to be deputies conducting “urgent legal matters,” pressuring victims to comply quickly to avoid supposed consequences.
Authorities say these types of calls commonly spike during tax season, holidays, and at the beginning of each month—times when scammers anticipate higher public distraction. The sheriff’s office is reminding residents to hang up immediately if they receive any unsolicited demand for payment, particularly if gift cards or “verification codes” are mentioned.
“If someone claims to be from our office and threatens arrest or demands money, it’s a scam,” officials said. They encourage residents to report suspicious calls and to help spread the warning to friends, family, and neighbors—especially seniors, who are often targeted.
Residents who believe they were contacted by a scammer can report the incident directly to the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office or the Federal Trade Commission.
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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