Salem Police Warn of Fraud, Impersonation of Police Officer

The Salem Police Department warns residents about a fraud scam in which a caller identifies themselves as a sheriff with the Rockingham County "Warrants Division" and tells the victim they can pay off charges or be arrested.

The Rockingham County Sheriff's Department – the real Rockingham County Sheriff's Department – notified Salem Police late last week that one such attempted fraud was against a Salem resident.

The caller impersonating a sheriff states that the person has outstanding warrants or charges and that they can pay them off by getting a Green Dot Card or a Western Union check and calling the "sheriff" back.

According to Salem Police, the victim is then directed to drive to the Rockingham County Jail in Brentwood and given a PIN number to deposit the check/card into an inmate’s account.

The Rockingham County Sheriff’s Department does not conduct arrests or collections of fines in this manner. 

Police ask that any resident receiving such a call to report it to the department at (603) 893-1911.