Maryland State Police are warning motorists to beware of scammers stopping traffic on busy highways and pretending to be stranded in order to ask for money.

The warning comes after police have received a series of complaints about the scams in recent months, and after a man was charged this week after allegedly flagging down vehicles on a highway ramp in Prince George’s County.

Troopers were called to area of Route 50 going south to Route 301 in Bowie on Wednesday for reports of a man blocking traffic, waving down cars and potentially causing a crash in the area, police said.

When troopers arrived about 2:15 p.m., they found Alexandru Dumitru, 32, of Baltimore asking for money from a person inside a jeep that had pulled over and parked on the shoulder of the ramp, police said. Dumitru had told the jeep’s driver that he had run out of gas, was stranded and needed money, police said.

But when troopers checked Dumitru’s car, they found that he had a full tank of gas and wasn’t stranded, police said. A woman and child were with him at the time.

Troopers arrested Dumitru on charges of disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace and other traffic violations, police said. It is unclear from online court records whether Dumitru has an attorney.

Maryland State Police said it has had an increase in calls reporting other people walking onto busy ramps and highways attempting to stop drivers.

“Individuals will then provide a scripted scenario in an attempt to solicit money from motorist,” Maryland State Police said in a statement. “Oftentimes they will entice motorist with jewelry claiming it to be real gold, that they are stranded without gasoline or a mechanical problem with their vehicle.”

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