The Maryland State Police are urging citizens to remain vigilant after multiple reports of a phone scam in which individuals are posing as law enforcement officers to illegally collect personal information. The scammers are reportedly posing as members of the Maryland State Police or officers from the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office.

Victims have found that the caller IDs often imitate real phone numbers of these law enforcement agencies, adding an additional layer of deception to the scam. The Maryland State Police advises the public to be cautious if they receive a suspicious call. Individuals should ask for the caller’s name, rank, service number and assignment before giving out any personal information.

To ensure the legitimacy of the call, citizens should hang up and contact the Maryland State Police barracks or local police department the caller claims to represent directly for verification. Officials stress that the Maryland State Police will never ask for money or financial details over the phone.

Authorities are urging people not to give out sensitive information, such as bank account numbers or social security numbers, over the phone without confirming the caller’s identity. If someone believes they have inadvertently given personal information to a scammer, they are advised to contact their financial institution immediately.

Further steps include reporting the incident to police and filing a complaint with the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov. The Maryland State Police continue to advise everyone to be cautious of such fraudulent activity and to report suspicious calls to prevent further scams.

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