The Middlesex Sheriff’s Office (MSO) is warning residents of continuing arrest and warrant scams targeting Middlesex County residents.
Between May 14-June 8, the MSO received 28 reports of individuals posing as deputies and trying to scam residents out of money via phone. In four instances, residents reported being scammed out of a total $12,500.
Losses in the four cases ranged from $500-$7,000.
In each of the cases in which losses were reported, the victims were told they had missed either state or federal jury duty and were required to pay fines in order to avoid arrest. In three of the cases, individuals were directed to cryptocurrency machines to make the payments, while the fourth victim was told to set up a digital checking account.
“The Middlesex Sheriff’s Office will never threaten arrest over the phone, by text or via email,” said Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian. “And we will never, ever demand payment for outstanding fines or fees using cryptocurrency, gift cards or other similar forms of payment. These are tell-tale signs of scams and we want you to hang up right away and report it to authorities.”
The cryptocurrency kiosks located in communities throughout the Commonwealth have become favorite tools for scammers who frequently direct targets to the machines to make payments for fake fines and fees. Legislation supported by Sheriff Koutoujian is currently pending that would ban the kiosks in Massachusetts. The Middlesex Sheriff’s Office will nor direct individuals to pay fines through cryptocurrency.
Anyone who may have lost money in a similar scam involving individuals posing as members of the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office is encouraged to notify the MSO at 781-960-2800.
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