Bangor PD Says Don’t Be Fooled By Phony “Sgt. Potter” Phone Scam

Folks with the Bangor Police Department would like you to know that they will never reach out, by email, snail mail, or phone and demand that you pay a bill or a fine, especially via a third part cash-app or bank.

If you're even the least bit suspicious of someone's intentions when they call asking for money, take a moment to fully check them out. And if you have to call the police to double-check.

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According to Bangor PD's Public Information Office, Jason McAmbley, if someone does contact you, pressuring you to pay, it's likely a scam. And there's a new one going around where someone is impersonating one of their own to solicit money.

"A person in the Farmington area alerted a family member that they had received a call from 'Sgt. Ed Potter, of the Bangor Police Department,' who said they had missed jury duty and needed to pay $3,000.00 via CoinStar. The caller also had information obtained through social media accounts and the internet about the person who received the call. The scammer has even gone so far as to create a voicemail, identifying himself as Sgt. Ed Potter when you call the number back. "

Thankfully, the person who had been approached saw the scam for what it was, and just so happened to have a family member who worked in law enforcement. Needless to say, the incident was quickly reported to the authorities.

McAmbley says if you get a message saying you owe the cops money, you are not in trouble or at risk of being arrested.

Cops enforce laws, McAmbley says. They are not typically bill collectors.