Dauphin County has been made aware of an ongoing phone scam through the Dauphin County Sheriff’s Office, which is warning residents about callers impersonating law enforcement personnel and threatening arrest unless victims immediately send money. 

The Sheriff’s Office has received reports of residents losing thousands of dollars, with individual losses ranging from $5,000 to $10,000. Scammers have targeted residents over supposed arrest warrants, missed jury duty and other legal matters, as well as family members of incarcerated individuals seeking to secure a loved one’s release. 

“These scammers are very convincing. They know how to create fear and make you believe you are in immediate danger of being arrested,” Sheriff Nicholas Chimienti Jr. said. “They use official-sounding language, personal information and threats to pressure people into making quick decisions without stopping to verify what they are being told.” 

Callers may claim a judge has issued an arrest warrant or that immediate payment is required to avoid arrest or secure a family member’s release. They may use fabricated names, claim to work at the Dauphin County Courthouse and use caller ID spoofing to make calls appear to originate from the Sheriff’s Office. 

Victims may be directed to send money through Bitcoin or other cryptocurrency, Venmo, Cash App, Zelle or prepaid cards. Scammers may insist victims remain on the phone while completing transactions and discourage them from contacting family members or law enforcement. 

Pressure to pay immediately, keep the transaction secret or remain on the phone is a major warning sign. Caller ID and personal information do not prove that a call is legitimate. The Dauphin County Sheriff’s Office will never demand cryptocurrency, money transfers or prepaid card payments to prevent an arrest. 

Residents who receive a threatening call from someone claiming to represent the Sheriff’s Office should: 

• Hang up immediately and do not send money. 

• Never share banking information, passwords, verification codes or prepaid card redemption codes. 

• Independently verify the call by contacting the Sheriff’s Office at 717-780-6590. Do not use a number provided by the caller. 

Anyone who has sent money should immediately contact their bank, payment provider, cryptocurrency platform or prepaid card issuer to report the transaction and ask whether the funds can be recovered. Victims should also report the incident to their local police department. 

Suspicious calls may be reported to the Dauphin County Sheriff’s Office at 717-780-6590 or the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection at 1-800-441-2555. 

“There’s no reason for victims to feel embarrassed, and we want people to report these incidents so we can warn others and help prevent additional losses,” Chimienti said. 

Dauphin County encourages residents to share this warning with family members, friends and neighbors to help prevent further victimization.