(WNY News Now) – HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday is urging residents to be cautious of a government imposter scam in which callers pose as sheriff’s deputies and threaten arrest unless immediate payment is made.
The scheme involves scammers spoofing official phone numbers to make it appear as though the call is from a legitimate law enforcement office. Targets are told they have unpaid tickets or pending legal issues and are pressured to pay with gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency to avoid being taken into custody.
“Scammers will do anything to take advantage of hardworking Pennsylvanians, including scaring their targets into making payments,” Attorney General Sunday said. “Be aware that a sheriff or sheriff deputy will not call you offering a ‘second chance’ from being arrested.”
Bucks County Sheriff Fred Harran, who alerted the Attorney General’s office to the scam, emphasized that criminals exploit trust to create fear. “These criminals use fear to short-circuit your good judgment. Don’t let them. The single most powerful tool you have is the ‘end call’ button,” Harran said.
The Attorney General’s Office warns residents that no government agency, law enforcement office, or court will ever request payment through gift cards, cryptocurrency ATMs, or similar methods. If a caller refuses to provide verifiable identification — such as a badge number, office name, and official callback number — the call should be considered fraudulent.
Those who suspect they have been targeted are advised not to send money. If a payment was recently made under such circumstances, the Office of Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection recommends immediately contacting your bank and the money transfer service used to attempt cancellation.
Pennsylvanians who believe they have been victimized can file a complaint online with the Bureau of Consumer Protection at www.attorneygeneral.gov or call 800-441-2555 to confirm their local sheriff’s department.
Leave a Reply