York, PA – Families across York County are being warned today about a new phone scam targeting relatives of incarcerated individuals at the York County Prison. According to the York County Sheriff’s Office, callers are pretending to be deputies or employees from an alarm monitoring company and are pressuring family members to pay money for the alleged release of an inmate.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the scammers are telling victims that an incarcerated individual could be released immediately if a family member pays a so-called “cash purge.” Officials emphasized that no such fee exists and that no outside agency will ever call requesting money for an inmate’s release. Authorities say the calls appear convincing, and the scammers are using authoritative language to pressure families into making quick payments.
The Sheriff’s Office stressed that this is a scam, and community members should not send money or share personal information with anyone claiming to represent the prison or law enforcement unless they can verify the call. Anyone receiving a suspicious call is urged to hang up and independently contact York County Prison to confirm the legitimacy of any information.
Per the Records Manager at York County Prison, individuals may call 717-840-7580, choose option 7, then option 2, to verify whether a call is legitimate. Officials remind residents that government agencies do not request payment over the phone for inmate release or court-related matters.
York County authorities are asking residents to share this alert widely to prevent further victimization. Anyone who has already provided money or personal information is encouraged to report the incident to their local police department.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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