Bucks County Sheriff (Credit: Bucks County Sheriff)
The Bucks County Sheriff’s Office has issued a warning to area residents: scammers are calling.
The Sheriff’s Office has received many reports of calls from people claiming to be deputies, trying to persuade them to provide personal information or make payments over the phone.
A statement from Bucks County Sheriff Fred Harran’s office said scammers are using sophisticated techniques to mask or duplicate caller ID to appear to be from the Sheriff’s Office, and using names of actual deputies.
“Let me be clear: no member of the Bucks County Sheriff’s Office will ever call you demanding money or threatening arrest over the phone,” said Sheriff Harran. “These criminals are preying on our community, and it’s crucial that residents remain vigilant. If you receive a call like this, hang up immediately and contact your local police department. We’re all in this together to protect our citizens.”
Harran’s office also said that the scammers often ask for payment through “unconventional methods such as Bitcoin, gift cards, or payments at random retail kiosks.” Deputies will not ever request payments through any of these methods, the statement said.
“It is crucial to understand that you cannot pay off law enforcement to resolve a warrant,” the statement said. “This is never a legitimate procedure. Do not provide any personal information or financial details.”
Residents should be wary of anyone contacting them to demand payment or personal identifying information, no matter how legitimate the caller sounds.
If residents believe these scammers have been in touch, they are urged to call their local police department and file a report of fraud.
Even if a call seems legitimate, residents can contact the Sheriff’s Office directly to confirm rather than trying to deal with the caller directly.
