Montgomery County officials are warning residents about a phone scam that has resurfaced in the area involving callers impersonating sheriff’s deputies.
District Attorney Kevin R. Steele and Sheriff Sean P. Kilkenny said the Montgomery County Detective Bureau is investigating the scam, which uses a spoofed 610-area code phone number to make the call appear local.
The scammer then tells residents they owe money for missed jury duty, unpaid fines or other court violations, and pressures them to pay immediately.
Victims are typically instructed to use gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers or other indirect payment methods — all of which are red flags, officials said.
“Montgomery County residents need to know that no payments for court-related matters are ever handled using gift cards, money transfers or cryptocurrency,” Steele said. “Further, no money is involved if there is a warrant issued for someone’s failure to appear in court for jury duty or for any other reason. A failure to appear warrant must be handled in a courtroom in front of a Court of Common Pleas judge.”
Kilkenny echoed the warning.
“Our deputy sheriffs do not operate in this manner,” he said. “Sheriff personnel will never call a resident to demand money to satisfy a warrant or demand money for any reason.”
Officials advised anyone receiving a suspicious call to hang up, note the date, time and number, and then contact the Montgomery County Detective Bureau at 610-278-3368. Residents who are uncertain can call the county courthouse directly at 610-278-3000 and ask to be transferred to the Sheriff’s Office to verify.
