The Merrimack County Sheriff’s Office is warning people to beware of calls from scammers impersonating deputies who request money for made-up fines.
Callers are claiming that people owe fines for missing court or jury duty and could face arrest if they don’t pay.
These types of scams reappear every few years, Sheriff David Croft said, but recently there has been an influx of new ones. “Our phones are ringing off the hook,” he said.
Croft said that his detectives are working to track down the scammers, who appear to be using “burner” phones to mask the source of calls.
“My biggest concern is for the elderly population,” Croft said. “We’ve had a couple of elderly folks who have fallen for it.”
The Sheriff’s Office does not request payments for fines over the phone and is instructing anyone who receives a call like this to hang up. To check for arrest warrants with the Merrimack County Sheriff’s Office, call the Warrants Division at 603-796-6644.