PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - State police are investigating a telephone scam they say originated from lines in the Division of Sheriffs offices.
Police say on Wednesday someone used sheriffs’ phone lines at the Noel Judicial Complex and the Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal in what is called a “spoofing” hoax.
Those receiving the calls were told they were wanted by the federal government and would be arrested if they did not pay a specific amount of money, usually thousands of dollars.
Police say in at least one instance the caller used the name Detective Sean Woods. They say there is nobody with that name affiliated with the Sheriffs Department.
Police say residents in Warwick and Cranston reported receiving the calls.
No arrests have been made.
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