The Maryland Judiciary has issued a warning about new scams involving telephone and email communications. These scams aim to extort money by making individuals believe they are subjects of legal actions that will proceed if they do not respond within 48 hours. The scams have been reported in Harford County, with perpetrators claiming to possess arrest warrants for the targeted victims.
Scammers often send emails with attachments that appear to be arrest warrants signed by fictitious judges or court officials. They demand specific sums of money to resolve these fabricated matters.
The Maryland Judiciary advises that anyone receiving calls or emails containing statements such as: “U.S. Legal Services is pressing charges against you and holding in regards to three serious allegations: 1) violation of federal banking regulations, 2) collateral check fraud, and 3) theft by deception,” should not disclose any personal, credit card, or bank information. Recipients are advised to hang up on such calls immediately or delete related emails without responding.
The Harford County State’s Attorney’s Office has been informed about these scams. Individuals affected can also contact the Office of the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division at 410-528-8662 or toll-free at 888-743-0023, along with local law enforcement agencies.
It is important to note that courts do not request payments or personal information via phone or email. Payments through credit card or PayPal are never solicited by courts in this manner. For concerns regarding court cases or arrest warrants, individuals should reach out directly to their District Court or Circuit Court using contact details available on the Maryland Judiciary website’s courts directory.