HARRISBURG – Attorney General Dave Sunday is warning Pennsylvanians to be aware of an uptick in government imposter scams in which callers pose as members of local County Sheriff’s Offices. The calls appear to come from the county sheriff’s offices due to the use of number spoofing, making their phone number appear legitimate on caller ID.
The caller may claim to be a sheriff and say an arrest warrant has been issued because you failed to appear for Federal Grand Jury duty or missed a court hearing. The scammer then demands payment for “bail” or a “bond” to avoid arrest.
“Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated and convincing, but their goal remains the same – to pressure you into sending money before you have time to verify the facts,” Attorney General Sunday said. “No legitimate law enforcement agency or court will demand immediate payment over the phone. If you receive one of these calls, hang up, verify the information independently, and report it.”
No law enforcement agency, government office, or court will ask you to pay any outstanding fees with gift cards, Bitcoin, or other cryptocurrency.
Red flags to watch out for:
- The caller insists you stay on the phone with them until the payment is received.
- The caller instructs you to withdraw cash from your bank account and deposit funds into a Bitcoin ATM.
- The caller encourages you to tell the bank teller that the funds are for something else like a car purchase or home improvement projects rather than the “bail/bond.”
- The caller says you shouldn’t tell anyone what is happening.
- The caller provides you with a QR code or other code to scan or enter.
If you receive one of these calls:
- Hang up the phone immediately.
- Do not withdraw cash from your bank when you receive instructions to do so over the phone.
- Talk to someone you trust – especially if the person on the phone says it is serious, involves a crime, or claims to be from the government or law enforcement.
- Never deposit funds into a Bitcoin ATM or purchase gift cards for services/payment.
- Never transfer or send money, cryptocurrency, or gold to someone you don’t know in response to an unexpected call or message.
- If you receive a suspicious call and want to confirm your local sheriff’s department, please call 1-800-441-2555.
If you received a call similar to one described above, you may submit a complaint form to the Office of Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection by visiting the website, by emailing scams@attorneygeneral.gov, or by calling the office at 1-800-441-2555.
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