State Police Warn of Fake Cop Scam in Northeast Pa.

Pennsylvania State Police say a Wyalusing woman reports she got a call from someone claiming to be a Sheriff’s officials wanting a payment.

The woman sent the fake cop $2,500 in prepaid gift cards last week.

State Police say the 69-year-old woman reported the incident at nine in the morning on June 15.

Again, police advise the public law enforcement agencies, the IRS and courts do NOT demand payment over the phone and never ask for prepaid gift cards.

Similar scams have involved callers claiming that the victim owes money for an outstanding fine, was caught on a stop light or speed camera or is in trouble for their income taxes.  Most of the cases demand the victim buy a certain amount on prepaid gift cards that the criminal can then use to purchase actual items or transfer into cash payments.  The gift cards are next to impossible to track.

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Sometimes scammers demand personal information or bank account information on the rouge of needing the information to resolve the outstanding bill or other financial issue.

You should never give out personal or financial information over the phone or by email or text.

Officials advise to be suspicious of emails, texts and phone calls from unfamiliar numbers, groups or supposed government agencies where you have had no previous interaction. Do not click on links in unsolicited emails or text messages, especially if they are coming from an agency you are not currently doing business with.

Any suspicious incidents should be reported to local law enforcement.

The Pennsylvania State Police say their investigation into the reported scam in Bradford County is ongoing.