Berks County, Pennsylvania – The Berks County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about an increase in phone scams allegedly targeting locals and causing significant financial losses.
According to Sheriff Mandy Miller, scammers are calling residents while falsely claiming to be members of law enforcement and demanding immediate payment. Officials said some victims have already lost thousands of dollars.
The Sheriff’s Office emphasized it will never call residents to demand payment, request gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers, or threaten arrest over the phone. Callers may also claim individuals can “avoid jail” by paying immediately, which authorities say is a common scam tactic.
Officials warned that caller ID information can be spoofed to appear legitimate, making the calls look as though they are coming from a local agency.
Residents who receive such calls are advised to hang up immediately, avoid sharing personal or financial information, and contact the Sheriff’s Office directly at 610-478-6240 using the official published number.
The alert may be especially relevant for older residents and young adults unfamiliar with common impersonation tactics.
Authorities are encouraging community members to share the warning to help prevent additional losses.
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