HAGERSTOWN – The Washington County Sheriff’s Office has issued a second warning in less than a month about persistent phone and notification scams targeting residents, with fraudsters now posing as district court officials to demand payments for nonexistent cash bond refunds.
In a recent public alert shared on the sheriff’s office Facebook page, officials described the latest scheme: Scammers send fraudulent notifications claiming victims are owed refunds from cash bonds posted in court cases. The messages urge immediate action, often threatening arrest or other consequences if payments aren’t made quickly via unusual, untraceable methods.
Legitimate courts do not solicit payments via gift cards, peer-to-peer apps such as Zelle or Cash App, cryptocurrency or similar digital means for bond refunds or related matters. Official processes involve established procedures, such as mailed correspondence or in-person handling, without urgent demands for electronic transfers.
Scammers heighten pressure with urgency and threats, while using stolen phone numbers, real judges’ names, court addresses and fake documents, including emails, texts or letters that contain QR codes or payment instructions to lend the scam an aura of authenticity.
This alert follows closely on the heels of a Dec. 29 warning about a resurgence of phone scams in which callers impersonate actual deputies, including Sgt. Justin Kelbaugh, a real member of the sheriff’s office.
Those fraudsters use caller ID spoofing to appear as if calling from official law enforcement numbers. Victims are falsely told they have outstanding warrants or missed jury duty, then pressured to pay to avoid arrest using the same untraceable payment methods.
The sheriff’s office has stressed that genuine law enforcement never calls to threaten immediate arrest over fines or demands payment through unconventional methods to “resolve” alleged crimes. Even when scammers possess personal details, reference real officer names or sound convincing, the contact is fraudulent.
Officials advise residents to hang up immediately on suspicious calls and not call back the displayed number, as it may lead back to scammers. Any court or law enforcement-related claim should be verified directly by contacting the appropriate agency using phone numbers from official sources, such as the sheriff’s website at washcosheriff.com, not from the suspicious message or call.
“Do not send money or share personal or financial information in response to unsolicited contacts,” the sheriff’s office urged. “We encourage residents to stay vigilant, as scammers remain active in the community.”
If targeted or victimized, readers may report the incident to the Federal Trade Commission here, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center here and local law enforcement.
Officials noted these impersonation and refund scams often target vulnerable groups, including seniors, and continue to evolve, with similar alerts issued by agencies across the country.
