‘Internet-Crime’: State Police issue warning about country-wide prank phone calls
On February 15, investigators with the Maryland State Police reported that citizens from as far away as Hawaii are receiving prank phone calls originating from a web-based service. Those calls are going out across the U.S. and are made to appear that they are coming to your phone from the State Police Criminal Enforcement Division based in Maryland. State Police officials want the public to realize that these calls are not coming from the State Police.
Some people are reporting they received an automated message informing them that an “internet crime has been committed” and they are instructed to contact the Maryland State Police Criminal Enforcement Division at 410-953-8200. Others reported that when they answer the phone, they are met with silence and the number on their caller ID is 410-953-8200.
While the number shown on caller ID is the correct phone number for the Criminal Enforcement Division, the Maryland State Police is not making any such calls.
Persons receiving this phone call should hang up and ignore the instructions.
Individuals receiving the calls and contacting Maryland State Police have been from Hawaii, Texas, New York and Maryland. There is no apparent connection to extortion or theft, but the calls do cause unneeded concern and inconvenience for the victims and for police.
~ Posted by: Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Connect with Richard on Facebook and Twitter
