Spring Township police are the latest to warn residents of a recurring telephone scam involving a caller who impersonates a law enforcement official, telling intended victims that they missed jury duty and will be arrested unless they pay a fine.
The scammers request the intended victim send a payment via cryptocurrency such as bitcoin, police said in a Facebook post.
“Remember, no one from the Berks County Sheriff’s Office, the Spring Township police, or any local, state or federal agency is going to call you to tell you you missed jury duty and will be arrested unless you pay a fine,” the post reads. “No matter what they say, hang up the phone and contact your local police department immediately. Do not give them any information or call them back at a number they provide.”
The post referred to a May post by Sheriff Mandy Miller that warned of scammers using the names of actual sheriff’s staffers to make their calls sound legitimate.
Miller said the scammers may claim you missed jury duty, have a warrant, owe fines and demand payment via gift cards or wire transfers or ask for personal information.
Officials have noted that caller IDs can be spoofed to look like legitimate numbers. Officials advised not trusting the number that appears on your screen.
Miler has advised reporting such calls to her office at sheriff@berkspa.gov.
District Attorney John T. Adams also has issued repeated similar warnings this year, and his office has offered the following tips to avoid being scammed:
• Never give out sensitive information over the phone. This would include Social Security numbers, dates of birth, account numbers, names of financial institutions or account balances.
• Do not feel pressured to provide a payment to anyone asking over the telephone. Research what is being asked of you. Run the situation by a friend or family member before sending or withdrawing any money. Talk with someone you trust before you act.
• Slow down. Scammers will try to rush you and pressure you into sending or withdrawing money immediately. Legitimate law enforcement agencies and banking personnel would never rush you regarding any financial decision.
• Never withdraw cash in response to an unexpected call or message. Only scammers will demand that you urgently withdraw large amounts of money.
• Government agencies and business entities will never demand payment over the phone using bitcoin, gift cards or peer-to-peer payment platforms. Anyone who asks for funds to be paid in this manner is likely a scammer.
• Remember, just because someone calls you and claims to be from a financial institution or a government agency doesn’t mean that they are. Ask questions and do research, especially when the nature of their inquiry is unexpected, suspicious or involves high-pressure tactics.
• Do not deposit money into a bitcoin ATM, or BTMs, at the request of an unsolicited caller. Anyone who asks for funds in this way is most likely a scammer.
In addition to notifying local enforcement, a complaint can be filed with the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov or by calling 1-877-382-4357.