Local News

Middlesex police warn residents of ongoing arrest scams

The scammers make false claims about fines owed to the police. Several residents were asked to turn themselves in to Woburn or Lowell police.

Middlesex police want you to know, a real officer would never request money, Bitcoin, or gift cards over the phone.

By Adora Brown

1 minute to read

The Middlesex Sheriff’s Office (MSO) is warning residents about recent arrest scams over the phone.

Multiple Middlesex residents have reported false phone calls from people posing as police and claiming they are under arrest for various reasons, according to a press release from MSO. The calls claim that they are being fined for missing jury duty or a court appearance. 

Further, the scammers instruct that the residents must turn themselves in to different police stations or send money through PayPal.

On Jan. 29 alone, four people were called, according to the sheriff.

The MSO reiterates that a police officer would never ask for money or Bitcoin over the phone to pay a fine. They state in their press release, “These are clear signs of a scam.”

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None of the people who reported the calls lost money, according to police.

The police advise residents who receive these calls to hang up immediately, call MSO at 978-667-1711, and specifically request their Inner Perimeter Security (IPS) Unit.  

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