08/16/2026
Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General Dave Sunday is warning Pennsylvanians to be aware of an uptick in government imposter scams in which callers pose as members of local county sheriff’s offices. The calls appear to come from the county sheriff’s offices due to the use of number spoofing, making their phone number appear legitimate on caller ID.
The caller may claim to be a sheriff and say an arrest warrant has been issued because you failed to appear for federal grand jury duty or missed a court hearing. The scammer then demands payment for “bail” or a “bond” to avoid arrest.
According to the attorney general, no legitimate law enforcement agency or court will demand immediate payment over the phone. No law enforcement agency, government office or court will ask you to pay any outstanding fees with gift cards, Bitcoin or other cryptocurrency. If you receive one of these calls, hang up, verify the information independently and report it to local authorities, as well as the attorney general’s office.
Please visit attorneygeneral.gov/taking-action for more information about red flags to watch out for, and what to do – and what not to do – if you receive one of these calls.
