The Maryland Judiciary has issued a warning to the public about a new telephone scam that exploits the threat of lawsuits in local courts. The scam aims to extort money or obtain personal information by convincing individuals they are involved in legal actions.
Reportedly occurring in Kent County, the scam involves callers claiming to represent a "pre-legal division" regarding an allegedly "intentionally defrauded" loan forwarded to the District Court. The caller names a local bank and court, demanding payment to avoid legal proceedings.
"This call is a scam," states the Maryland Judiciary. Recipients of such calls are advised to hang up immediately and not respond. The Judiciary has informed the State’s Attorney Offices in Kent County and Queen Anne’s County about these scams. Affected individuals can contact the Office of the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division at 410-528-8662 or toll-free at 888-743-0023, as well as local law enforcement.
Courts do not notify individuals of lawsuits via phone calls. Notification occurs through certified mail or direct service with documents when a lawsuit is filed in District Court. Additionally, courts do not request payments or personal information via phone or email, nor do they accept credit card or PayPal payments this way.
The public is reminded not to provide personal, credit card, or bank information to unsolicited callers or emails claiming court affiliation. If contacted about a court case or arrest warrant, individuals should reach out directly to their jurisdiction's District Court or Circuit Court for verification. Contact details for each court can be found on the Maryland Judiciary website's directory.
For further information on scams related to lawsuits and other state and federal court scams, prior releases are available on the Maryland Judiciary’s website: www.mdcourts.gov.