Since 1992
Print and digital marketing
AUBURN — A scam involving the name of Androscoggin County Sheriff Eric Samson is being used. The sheriff department communication center has received several calls from residents reporting the same or similar complaints.
When the department called the phone number of the person pretending to be Samson, the person on the other end of the call answered “Sheriff’s department.”
The deputy who called, posing as an ordinary resident, said he’d received a voicemail saying there was a warrant out for his arrest. The scammer identified himself as the sheriff, though he had a thick southern accent (which the real sheriff does not), had trouble pronouncing “Androscoggin,” and likely would not have been able to spell it either, the sheriff’s department said. Sampson can both easily say and spell “Androscoggin,” according to the news release.
The person posing as Sampson said he was going to “run” the deputy’s name to verify the warrant. After a few seconds, he said there was a failure to appear and contempt of court warrant for the deputy for failing to show up for jury duty. The fake sheriff confirmed the warrant was issued by a judge who he named. He then said the deputy had to post $2,500 bond to clear the warrants.
After the deputy said that was too expensive, the fake sheriff said that “his lieutenant” could override the warrants and reduce the amount to $500. He asked that the deputy go to a local store to buy a “voucher” since he the fake sheriff is a government official and could not take money directly. The impersonator said he would stay on the phone while the deputy drove to the store. The deputy tried to lure the imposter into meeting him somewhere local, but was not successful. It is believed the overall motive was to have the deputy provide a credit or debit card information over the phone.
The sheriff’s department urges residents to be wary of phone calls. The scam is similar to one of a few months ago where someone was impersonating a “Lt. Vance Berry,” who does not exist. The phone number has since been disconnected. The sheriff’s department also urges residents to report suspicious activity to local law enforcement.
