Towson, MD – The Baltimore County Police Department has issued a warning about a surge in spoofing incidents, where scammers pose as police officers to extract money and personal information from residents. These fraudulent calls have been identified as part of a rising regional trend. Police emphasize they will never request monetary funds, bank details, or social security numbers via phone or in person interactions.
Officials advise residents to avoid answering calls from unknown numbers. If someone does answer such a call, they should not engage further if the caller’s identity is unexpected. If instructed to press a button to block calls, the best action is to hang up immediately.
It is also advised that residents never assume any unexpected call is legitimate. To verify authenticity, one should hang up and call back using a number obtained from official sources, such as a bill, statement, or an organization’s verified website. Residents should stay vigilant as scammers may use various tactics such as sounding threatening or offering too good to be true deals.
Baltimore County Police recommend consulting with phone service providers about available call-blocking tools for both landlines and mobile devices. Those who encounter spoofing scams are urged to report these incidents to local law enforcement.
