PORTLAND — The Portland Police Department is warning residents of a phone scam involving calls from individuals posing as Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office personnel.
The scammers inform victims they have failed to appear for court as witnesses and are in contempt, demanding payment of a substantial fine to avoid arrest.
The fraudulent calls instruct victims to deposit money through Coinstar machines, utilizing Dogecoin or other cryptocurrencies.
Upon researching the caller’s number, it appears to be linked to the Cumberland County Courthouse, lending credibility to the scam.
Authorities advise those who receive such calls not to engage with the callers.
Instead, they should verify the legitimacy of the claim by contacting the courthouse directly at 207-822-4200.
Officials stress that the courthouse does not request payments over the phone under any circumstances.
