FRAUD ALERT from the Montco Sheriff's Deparment

FRAUD ALERT:  Beware of telemarketers impersonating MCSD sheriff’s deputies for identity theft

Norristown, Pa., (September 5, 2013) – The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department (MCSD) is warning citizens to be on the alert for a telemarketing scam involving individuals falsely identifying themselves as sheriff’s deputies.  The bogus officers harass potential victims with the hopes of persuading them to give out personal information, which may lead to identity theft.

According to Lt. Gregory Womelsdorf of the MCSD, the Montgomery County Detectives Bureau is investigating at least one male scammer with a heavy accent, who has called local residents and claimed to be “Deputy Thomas O’Brien” from the MCSD.  The con says that he is following up on false charges against the potential victim and tells them to contact “Detective Samuel Baxter”, another bogus officer, via an out-of-state phone number to discuss the details of the complaint.  The scammer may ask for personal information such as the person’s date of birth, social security number and address.

“Impersonating a law enforcement officer is a serious crime and it ruins the trust that people have for official law enforcement officers,” said Sheriff Eileen Whalon Behr.  “The MCSD does not make phone calls regarding details of civil matters and we don’t collect personal information over the phone.”

Anyone who has been a victim of this crime should call the MCSD at 215-278-3331 or email sheriffoffice@montcopa.org to report the incident.  Complaints can also be filed with the resident’s local police department or, The U.S. Attorney’s Office Eastern District of Pennsylvania by calling 215-861-8200 or online at http://www.justice.gov/usao/pae/report_a_crime.htm.

Tips on how to avoid scams and fraud can be found on the Montgomery County District Attorney’s website at http://www.montcopa.org/index.aspx?NID=158 and the National Crime Prevention Council website at www.ncpc.org.

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