Maryland State Police are warning residents about a phone scam involving police impersonators.

The press release states: “The Maryland State Police continue to warn the public about a phone scam in which scammers pose as police officers in order to steal personal information.

Police receive reports from citizens of scammers using fraudulent names posing as real Maryland State Police officers or pretending to work for the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office. Sometimes the caller IDs displayed in these cases look like real Maryland State Police or Calvert County Sheriff’s Office phone numbers.

If you receive a suspicious call, ask for the caller’s name, rank, duty number, and work assignment. Hang up without giving out any personal information, then verify his identity by contacting a Maryland State Police barracks or the local police department he claims to represent.

• The Maryland State Police will never ask you for money or financial information over the phone.
• Never give out personal information such as bank account details, social security numbers, or other information over the phone unless you have verified the source.
• If you believe you have provided information to a fraud, please notify your financial institution immediately.

After contacting your local police department, complaints should also be filed through the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov. Be alert to scam calls.”