WAYNESBORO, Pa. — The Waynesboro Police Department is warning residents about a scam involving fake jury duty warrants and impersonated law enforcement officers.
In a recent incident, a resident received a phone call from an individual claiming to be a police officer from a local police department. The caller stated that the resident had an outstanding warrant for failing to appear for jury duty and threatened that officers would be sent to the resident’s home to make an arrest.
The scammer then sent the resident a copy of an alleged warrant and demanded thousands of dollars in fines. The victim was instructed to withdraw cash and use the bar code provided by the scammer at a retail store to submit payment.
⚠️ THIS IS A SCAM.
Law enforcement will not demand immediate payment of fines over the phone, threaten immediate arrest if you hang up or instruct you to purchase or load money using bar codes, gift cards or similar payment methods, police warned.
Protect yourself:
• Do not provide personal or financial information to unsolicited callers.
• Do not send money or make payments based on threats made over the phone.
• Do not trust documents or warrants sent by text message as proof that a caller is legitimate.
• If you receive a suspicious call, hang up and independently contact the agency or court using a verified phone number.
• If you believe you have been the victim of a scam, contact your local law enforcement agency and your financial institution as soon as possible.
Remember: Scammers can impersonate police officers, government officials and court personnel. Don’t let fear and urgency pressure you into sending money.
Please share this information with friends, family members and especially those who may be more vulnerable to these types of scams.
