CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania State Police are warning residents about callers impersonating local law enforcement officers and demanding cryptocurrency payments to avoid arrest.
State police at the Chambersburg station said in a Nov. 5 news release that reports involving Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency scams have increased over the past several weeks.
The callers falsely identify themselves as a lieutenant with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and claim the person receiving the call has an active arrest warrant for failing to appear for jury duty, police said. They then instruct the person to make a payment using Bitcoin or another cryptocurrency to avoid arrest.
Police advise anyone receiving such a call to hang up immediately and not call the number back. Anyone seeking to verify a caller’s claim should contact the local law enforcement agency directly using a verified telephone number from the agency’s official website or another trusted source.
Law enforcement agencies and government officials will never demand payment by telephone or text message to resolve an arrest warrant or avoid arrest, state police said. Officers also will not instruct anyone to make payments using Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies, prepaid gift cards or third-party payment applications.
