CUMBERLAND COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE WARNS OF RISE IN PHONE SCAMS
The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office is alerting residents to a rising trend of fraudulent phone scams in the area. Scammers are impersonating sheriff’s office officials, often by spoofing the department’s actual phone number to make the calls appear legitimate.
These fraudsters falsely claim that victims owe money—related to issues like outstanding fines, warrants, or other legal matters—and threaten immediate arrest or prosecution unless payment is made right away.
Importantly, the sheriff’s office emphasizes that no legitimate government entity in Cumberland County will ever demand payment over the phone, accept or request payments in Bitcoin, cryptocurrency, or any similar methods, or call individuals to extort funds to avoid arrest. Any fees or fines must be paid only through the appropriate clerk’s office.
The department never accepts payments directly and urges residents to treat such calls as scams, hang up, and report them if received. This warning highlights the deceptive tactics being used to exploit people, with victims potentially losing significant amounts through coerced transfers or deposits.
