Thieves Use Fake, Real Police Names To Scam Chevy Chase Village Residents

CHEVY CHASE, MD — The Chevy Chase Village Police Department is warning residents to beware of scammers who are pretending to be police officers.

A scammer who called himself "Sgt. Ham" told Chevy Chase Village residents that an arrest warrant had been issued for them for failing to appear for court and that they must send money to avoid arrest. The Chevy Chase Village Police Department said it does not have any employee with the name Ham.

Another scammer used the name of a real police officer, Lt. Dasilva, to convince residents to send him money to avoid arrest.

"Do not be tricked by this thief. This is just another twist on an old con game. Ignore this scammer!" the police department said.

Last Thursday, the Village Communications Center received calls from seven residents reporting that a man who identified himself as "Sgt. Ham" from the Chevy Chase Village Police Department had contacted them.

When some of the residents challenged "Sgt. Ham’s" claims, he told them that they would receive a call from his supervisor, a lieutenant. After a few minutes, the "lieutenant" called those residents, and their caller ID displayed the Chevy Chase Village phone number of 301-654-7300.

"These thieves are able to use technology to make it appear as if they are calling from the Village Hall," the police department said.

The Chevy Chase Village Police Department offered tips and information to keep residents from falling victim to telephone scammers, including police impersonators:

• Paying money to avoid service of a true arrest warrant is not how the police operate.
• Ignore every incoming call that is unfamiliar to you. Simply do not answer the phone; let it go to voicemail.
• Never send money to an unexpected/unknown caller. Don’t let them trick you.
• Many such callers insert a sense of urgency into their scam (pay immediately or be arrested; grandson needs bail money right now; the offer will expire very soon; the IRS will put a lien on your assets by the end of the day). Resist the urge to send money. Call the Village Police before you do anything.
• Never purchase gift cards to send money to any caller for any reason.
• If you know how to block the caller’s number, do that.