Maryland State Police warn residents of phone scam impersonating officers

MARYLAND (WBFF) — Maryland State Police are alerting residents about a phone scam that impersonates law enforcement officers in an effort to steal personal information.

Officials received reports from residents about scammers who falsely identified themselves as police officers or troopers in order to obtain financial information or money.

These impersonators are telling victims they need to obtain the information due to a police investigation or are asking them to donate to support law enforcement and their families.

There have also been instances in which impersonators use the real name of an officer to gain trust, officials said.

Authorities emphasized that Maryland State Police do not call or text individuals or request money from anyone under any circumstances.

The following includes tips on phone scams:

• Never provide personal information over the phone unless you have a verified source.
• Never provide any payment information over the phone unless you have a verified source.
• Remember that police never call or request money for fines, arrest warrants, fundraisers, etc.
• If you don’t trust a source and want to verify it, you can search for the unit, group, or barrack they claim to be from online and call the listed number.
• If you believe you have provided information to a scam, notify your financial institution immediately.

Anyone who believes they may have been a victim of a scam is urged to contact their local police department or Maryland State Police and to file a complaint at ic3.gov.