Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujiantoday joined a nationwide public safety campaign led by the National Sheriffs’ Association to strengthen public awareness about fraud and scams targeting communities across the country.
As part of the initiative, Sheriff Koutoujianjoined more than a dozen sheriffs nationwide to record Public Service Announcements (MSO PSA link) now being distributed for broadcast on television and radio stations warning the public about increasingly sophisticated scam operations.
Criminal networks are using phone calls, text messages, social media, and fraudulent ads online to deceive Americans—often posing as law enforcement, legitimate businesses, or people that victims trust.
Americans now see an estimated 15 billion fraudulent ads online every day, and last year consumers lost $12.5 billion nationwide to frauds and scams, according to federal estimates and internal social media platform documents. These crimes range from romance and investment schemes to fake “tech support” and impersonation frauds that can drain life savings and destroy credit.
“The same scams we are seeing here in Middlesex County are happening across the nation,” said Sheriff Koutoujian. “These are not confined to any portion of the country or demographic group – they target us all. In fact, a member of my own team recently received a fake arrest warrant via text.”
These criminals rush their victims. They pressure them. They demand money or personal information—often using fear and urgency to override common sense. Law enforcement officials urge residents to remember five simple steps:
- Slow down
- Verify
- Hang up
- Don’t click
- Don’t send money
“If you receive one of these suspicious calls, texts or emails demanding immediate action, we want you to stop, slow the situation down and check with a trusted loved one, friend or professional,” said Sheriff Koutoujian. “The last thing these criminals want to do is allow you the time to check on what they are saying. This pressure alone, is a key sign of a scam and we’d encourage you to contact local law enforcement immediately.”
“Sheriffs across the country are fighting back, but local law enforcement cannot do it alone,” NSA Executive Director and CEO Justin Smith said. “The National Sheriffs’ Association is calling on Congress and the Trump Administration to keep the pressure on criminal networks, with tougher enforcement, real accountability for bad actors, and additional resources to shut these operations down—many of which operate overseas and target Americans at scale.”
As part of its efforts to educate and inform the public about ongoing scams, the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office is partnering with local law enforcement colleagues, councils on aging and other organizations to conduct scam awareness and prevention discussions. If you or your organization is interested in hosting a discussion, please visit middlesexsheriff.org and fill out our Community Presentation Form.
For more information on how to protect yourself and your family, middlesexsheriff.org or the National Sheriffs’ Association at: www.sheriffs.org/stopscams