The Centre County Sheriff’s Office and State College Police Department have reported recent phone scams in which the caller claims to be from local law enforcement.
Sheriff Bryan Sampsel said that his office has received reports of residents received calls that appear on caller ID as if they are coming from the sheriff’s office phone number, 814-355-6803. In most cases, the scammer asks for personal information and bank account numbers.
‘They go as far as to make fake docket numbers, to make you believe there is a court case pending or for not appearing to jury duty,’ Sampsel said in a news release. ‘Also in the past the phone scammers would tell the victims that they owed money for taxes, and if it was not paid ASAP then the sheriff’s would be contacted to come and arrest them.’
The callers seem to have a foreign accent and use titles including officer, lieutenant and deputy with various last names. They also may direct the person receiving the call to a website that looks official.
‘If you are receiving these calls, please do not give them any personal information, bank account numbers, or money orders. Please don’t visit the website they provide you,’ Sampsel said. ‘Stop and call 911 before proceeding to give information or visiting any website. Centre County Sheriff’s Office will not contact you and ask you for personal or bank account information. If you are unsure just contact our office.’
State College police said in a separate news release that scam calls appearing to come from their department’s phone number are ‘trying to convince recipients that police are calling on behalf of a loved one or that a loved one is in police custody to obtain money.’
Police said that if you receive such a call it is most likely a scam and to never provide personal or financial information to a caller over the phone.
‘If you are questioning the validity of a call, obtain the caller’s name, hang up, then look the agency up on your own to determine where to call to verify the legitimacy of the call,’ police said. ‘Never trust caller ID. Scammers can easily mask their true identity by projecting fake caller ID information.’
The Federal Trade Commission offers safety tips for dealing with phone scams: www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0076-phone-scams.
