The Maryland Judiciary has issued a warning about a new telephone scam targeting individuals by threatening them with arrest for failing to appear in court. The scam, reported in California, involves callers who claim to represent "Statewide Legal Services" or similar-sounding organizations. They inform victims of outstanding bench warrants and request their Social Security numbers and home addresses.
Victims are then directed to contact the Baltimore County Clerk’s Office if they have questions. However, this call is fraudulent. Recipients are advised to hang up immediately and not respond to any messages making such claims.
The Maryland Judiciary has alerted the Offices of the State’s Attorney in Baltimore County regarding this scam. Those affected can also reach out to 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.
It is important to note that courts do not notify individuals about bench warrants via phone calls nor request Social Security numbers. Courts also do not solicit payments or personal information through calls or emails, nor do they accept credit card or PayPal payments via these methods.
As a precaution, individuals should refrain from providing personal, credit card, or bank information over the phone or in response to emails claiming to be from a court. If contacted about a court case or warrant for arrest, it is advisable to get in touch with the District Court or Circuit Court in one's jurisdiction. Contact details for each court can be found on the Maryland Judiciary website’s courts directory.