Pittsburgh, PA – The Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a resurgence of phone scams in which callers falsely claim people missed jury duty and must immediately pay fines to avoid criminal charges.
According to the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, scammers are impersonating sheriff’s deputies and telling victims they failed to appear for jury duty. The callers allegedly pressure victims to remain on the phone while making payments, using fear and urgency to convince them the charges can only be resolved by sending money immediately.
Authorities say the scam has recently evolved to include a new tactic involving cardless ATM transactions.
In one recent case, a victim reportedly lost nearly $2,000 after being directed to an ATM inside the Allegheny County Courthouse Treasurer’s Office. The caller allegedly instructed the victim to enter an eight-digit cardless access code and four-digit PIN before depositing cash into the machine.
Sheriff Kevin Kraus emphasized that his office will never:
- Contact residents by phone about missed jury duty.
- Demand payment over the phone.
- Instruct anyone to use an ATM or cryptocurrency kiosk to pay a fine or clear a warrant.
- Request payment through gift cards or payment apps such as Venmo, Zelle, or Cash App.
Officials encourage anyone who receives one of these calls to hang up immediately and avoid providing personal or financial information. Residents who are unsure whether a call is legitimate should contact the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office directly using an official phone number rather than any number provided by the caller.
Law enforcement continues to urge the public to remain vigilant, as scammers frequently change tactics to target victims across western Pennsylvania.
