New: Pennsylvania Sheriff Warns of Scammers Posing as Law Enforcement

Several people a day are calling the Dauphin County Sheriff’s Office in Pennsylvania to report scam calls from fraudsters posing as law enforcement, and about half of those callers have already lost thousands of dollars, WHP reported.

The sheriff’s office said it was receiving an average of three to five calls over a 24-hour period. Half of the callers had already lost money, while the others called to check whether they were being scammed.

Pennsylvania Sheriff

Scammers are using a tone and language similar to local officers to gain victims’ trust, and once victims send money they often ask for more. Sheriff Chimienti said victims should know that once they give up the payment details, the money is gone.

How the scam works and what to do

• Scammers ask victims to pay through Venmo, Zelle, Bitcoin and prepaid money cards, sometimes using a jury duty story.
• The sheriff’s office says it will never ask for money through online banking apps.
• Never send money or share banking information with someone who calls you.
• Report suspicious calls to law enforcement.

Similar warnings have been issued in other US towns this month, including in Connecticut, where police said a resident lost money in a gift card scam involving callers who posed as tech companies.

Sources: WHP / Local 21 News; Newport Dispatch.

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