The Gaithersburg Police Department shared via social media that it has recently received complaints regarding a phone scam in which the caller falsely claims to be an officer with the Gaithersburg Police Department.
According to Gaithersburg Police, “During these calls, the scammer informs the victim that there is a warrant for their arrest and instructs them to make a payment—often via gift card or money transfer—to avoid being taken into custody.
We want to remind our community that this is a scam. Do not provide any personal or financial information to the caller.”
The Gaithersburg Police Department also shared the following:
The Gaithersburg Police Department does not call individuals about arrest warrants. We will never request or accept payments over the phone, especially in the form of gift cards or wire transfers. If you receive a call like this, hang up immediately and report it by calling police at 301-279-8000.
To protect yourself and others from phone or online scams, consider the following tips:
❌ Never share personal information such as your Social Security number, banking details, or passwords over the phone or email unless you are certain of the recipient’s identity.
✅ Verify independently. If someone claims to be from a government agency or law enforcement, hang up and call the agency directly using a verified phone number.
🚩 Be cautious of urgent threats or pressure tactics demanding immediate payment—these are common red flags.
❌ Use call-blocking tools or apps to help reduce scam calls.
☎️ Report scam attempts to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at reportfraud.ftc.gov and to police.
🗣️ Stay vigilant, and please share this information with family, friends, and neighbors—especially seniors and vulnerable individuals who may be more at risk.
