Montgomery County Sheriff warns of rise in scam calls

ROCKVILLE, Md. - Authorities in Montgomery County are warning residents about an uptick in scam calls from fraudsters attempting to steal money over the phone.

Scam calls on the rise

What we know:

The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office said scammers often pose as law enforcement officers, falsely claiming the recipient has missed a court date, jury duty, or failed to answer a summons. The caller threatens arrest unless a fine is paid immediately.

Sheriff Maxwell Uy emphasized that his office never requests money or financial information over the phone. Paying a fine will not clear any warrant, he said.

Residents who receive such calls or have fallen victim to the scam should contact the Montgomery County Police at 301-279-8000.