If a woman calls in Woodmoor and says she's a police officer collecting money to help make bail for a neighbor, call 911 and get a real officer, Baltimore County Police said yesterday.

A team of con artists has been trying to get people to part with money over the last few days in this western county community.

County police said a woman claiming to be a Woodlawn Station police officer has called several residents -- one of whom believed her -- saying a neighbor needed bail money. If the person agreed to help, a woman came to the door to collect the money.

The scam was tried twice on Tuesday, without success, but on Wednesday, a 71-year-old woman gave $70 to a woman described as black, in her early 20s, 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighing 100 pounds, with a medium complexion and short hair.

Police stressed that officers never handle or solicit bail money. They urged anyone who receives such a call to call 911.