PORTLAND — The Portland Police Department is warning residents about a scam where callers, posing as officials from the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, claim that the victims are in contempt of court for failing to appear as witnesses in a trial.
The scammers then demand payment of a substantial fine to avoid further charges, including arrest.
Victims are being instructed to make payments through Coinstar machines using Dogecoin or other cryptocurrencies.
The phone number used for the scam calls, when searched on Google, appears to be associated with the Cumberland County Courthouse.
Authorities urge anyone who receives such calls not to engage with the scammer.
Instead, they should contact the courthouse directly at 207-822-4200 to verify the legitimacy of the call.
Officials have clarified that the courthouse will never request payments over the phone.
