The Berks County District Attorney’s Office is warning residents about a phone scam in which callers impersonate sheriff’s deputies or court officials and claim the person receiving the call has an active arrest warrant for failing to appear for jury duty.
According to the District Attorney’s Office, scammers tell residents they must make an immediate payment to resolve the supposed warrant and avoid being taken into custody. Officials emphasized that the calls are fraudulent and residents should not make any payments.
Legitimate notices involving jury duty and other court matters are generally sent through official correspondence, and courts and law enforcement agencies will not demand immediate payment over the phone to avoid arrest, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Officials said scammers may request payment through cryptocurrency or other electronic payment methods, which government agencies do not use to demand payments in this manner.
The callers may also use caller-ID spoofing to make it appear that the call is coming from an actual government agency. Residents who have concerns about a call are advised to hang up, independently obtain the agency’s official telephone number and contact the agency directly.
The District Attorney’s Office said scammers may also send convincing-looking documents through email or text messages containing official seals, letterhead or legal terminology. Those features alone do not mean the documents are legitimate.
Another warning sign is the use of high-pressure tactics. Scammers may attempt to create fear or stress and insist that residents remain on the phone until the issue is resolved, preventing them from independently verifying the caller’s claims.
Anyone receiving a suspicious call is advised not to provide personal or financial information and not to make a payment. Residents should immediately end the call and report it to their local police department, the Berks County Sheriff’s Office at 610-478-6240 or the Berks County Detectives at 610-478-7171.
Residents who believe they have received legitimate correspondence involving jury duty or another court matter should contact the appropriate court directly using a verified telephone number.