NORTHAMPTON CO. (WOLF) — The Pennsylvania State Police Troop M – Bethlehem and the Northampton County Sheriff’s Department are urging residents not to fall victim to Bitcoin scams involving warrant payments.
Residents are receiving phone calls from unknown callers, indicating they are “Northampton County Sheriffs” and there is a warrant for their arrest for failing to report for jury duty. Callers advise the victims’ payment via Bitcoin is needed for the warrants to be voided. Recent fraudulent incidents include:
December 20, 2025: Victim received a phone call from a scammer, indicating they were a Northampton County Sheriff and had (2) warrants for her arrest for failing to report for jury duty. The victim made (3) Bitcoin transactions which totaled $10,000.00.
February 9, 2026: Victim received a phone call from a scammer, indicating they were a Northampton County Sheriff and indicated there was a warrant for her arrest, and she needed to make payments via Bitcoin. The victim deposited $4,000.00 in Bitcoin transactions prior to troopers making a traffic stop, indicating it was a scam.
February 11, 2026: Victim received a phone call from a scammer indicating they were a Northampton County Sheriff and had (2) warrants for her arrest and needed to make payment via Bitcoin. The victim made (2) transactions totaling $16,500.00 before realizing it was a scam.
State Police and the Northampton County Sheriff’s Office are urging residents, if they receive a phone call indicating payment is needed to law enforcement, to hang up immediately. Law enforcement never asks for payment over the phone and does not accept alternate payment methods such as Bitcoin.
For more information on the Pennsylvania State Police, visit www.psp.pa.gov
For more information on the Northampton County Sheriff’s Department, visit www.norcopa.gov