Scammer alert: Caller pretending to be Montgomery Co. officer demands money

A warning for Montgomery County residents! Scammers are pretending to be law enforcement officials using fake phone numbers and scaring residents into giving them money.

According to Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele and Sheriff Sean Kilkenny, scammers are calling residents from a “spoofed” phone number with the 610 area code.

Once the scammer gets the resident on the phone, they claim to be a Montgomery County deputy sheriff and warn the resident that they owe money to pay off fines, missed jury duty or other violations, officials said.

The scammer then directs the resident to pay them with gift cards, money transfers, cryptocurrency or other ways, according to the DA’s Office.

Officials are stressing that they will never request payment in these ways and if you’re asked to pay someone like this it is a red flag.

If you get a call like this make note of the date, time and phone number that shows up on your caller ID.

If you are unsure if it’s real or fake, please call the main Montgomery County Courthouse number at 610-278-3000 and ask to speak to someone in the sheriff’s office.

To report a scam call like this, call the Montgomery County Detective Bureau at 610-278-3368.