The Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about scammers after an incident in Hermon led to an arrest.
According to a Facebook post by the sheriff’s office, deputies received a report on Feb. 3 that scammers had targeted an elderly woman, calling her and claiming her financial accounts were compromised.
At first the calls sounded professional but soon became aggressive, with the scammers demanding she withdraw her money, the post said.
“After receiving repeated calls, the citizen felt compelled to hand over a large sum of money,” the sheriff’s office said.
The scammer reportedly sent someone to the woman’s home to collect the cash. Afterward, they demanded more money.
On Thursday, the scammer called again, claiming someone was there to pick up a package.
“Deputies quickly responded to the home and located an individual in the immediate area who was involved in the fraud,” the post said.
The sheriff’s office said the suspect, whose name was not released, had traveled from Boston in a rented car. He was arrested and taken to the Penobscot County Jail before being turned over to the Department of Homeland Security’s Enforcement and Removal Operations.
Authorities warned residents not to share personal information or make payments in person or over the phone.
“Scammers may pretend to be someone you trust, like a government agency, bank or family member, to gain your confidence,” the sheriff’s office said. “They may have general information about you to gain this trust. Their tactics often involve a friendly approach, which can turn aggressive.”
Anyone receiving similar phone calls should contact their local law enforcement agency.
