Essex County Sheriff Warns Residents Of New Phone Scam

ESSEX COUNTY, MA – A new scam has a caller or callers posing as a "Sgt. Roberts" from the Essex County Sheriff's Department, demanding money for past due legal fines, according to a press release from the Sheriff's department. Sheriff Kevin Coppinger said the department doesn't call anyone to demand money.

"At no time will an Essex County employee call people to demand that they pay a fine over the phone," said Coppinger. "This practice of demanding payment immediately over a phone is an obvious sign of a scam."

The number used – 978-704-0628 – has reportedly been disconnected, but the press release said the voicemail on that number referenced the Sheriff's office and its address. Other sheriffs' departments in Massachusetts and New Hampshire have reported similar scams, and the Essex County department said they would work with other agencies to identify the scammers and help get them prosecuted.

Anyone who receives a call similar to this should contact their local police department and to file an online complaint with the federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov.

"Citizens should remember that under no circumstances should they give out personal information over the phone," said Coppinger.

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