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3-29-2026 12:03am
Norfolk County Sheriff's Office Warns Residents of New "PPP Loan" Repayment Scam
Darlene Cancell
Editor
Sheriff Patrick McDermott and the Norfolk County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday, March 24, issued a warning to residents about a new scam for which office has received numerous complaints. In these cases, scammers may claim an affiliation with the Sheriff's Office and allege that the contacted persons owe outstanding "PPP Loans."
The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) was a federal Small Business Administration loan program that helped businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program ended in May 2021, says the Sheriff's office.
The scammers claim that the resident needs to pay a "surety bond" for missing a court hearing regarding the overdue PPP loans. Victims may be sent an official-looking but fraudulent document that appears to verify the false claims.
Additionally, the scammers may leave a phone number for victims to return their calls, the Sheriff's Office said. When residents return the call, they are connected to a voicemail box that appears to be related to the sheriff's office, but is not.
"The Norfolk County Sheriff's Office does not make calls like this, and neither do local police departments," said Sheriff McDermott. "Please do not send money to anyone making this claim and report the calls to your local police departments as well."
Sheriff McDermott advises residents to take their time when receiving calls like this, and to avoid feeling pressured by threats of arrest.
"Just hang up these callers and report them," he says.
Thanks to the Norfolk County Sheriff's Office for sharing this news with Westwood Minute.
