Fake deputy sheriff allegedly scams man out of $2,500

WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A man believing he was talking to an officer was scammed out of $2,5000 for a fake outstanding warrant bill, police stated.

According to the Wilkes-Barre City Police, a 26-year-old man from Wilkes-Barre reported he got a phone call from a person claiming to be employed by the Luzerne County Sheriff`s Office.

The scammer told the victim that he had an outstanding warrant for his arrest and he needed to pay $2,500, police said. The victim then transferred the money before realizing it was a scam.

The Luzerne County Sheriff’s Department offers tips to protect yourself from scammers;

Do not take immediate action
If you receive a communication that causes a strong emotional response, take a deep breath, hang up, or ignore the message. Talk to someone you trust.

Do not transfer your money/Do not buy that gift card
Never pay someone who insists that you pay with a gift card, prepaid debit card, or cryptocurrency, wire transfer, money transfer, or by mailing cash. Scammers use these forms of payment because they are hard to trace.

Be skeptical
If you think a real law enforcement officer is trying to reach you, call your local law enforcement using a nonemergency number to verify. Do not believe scammers who “transfer” your call to an official or who give you a number as proof.

The investigation is ongoing.

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