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Beware: Telephone Scams involving the Courts

By President Judge Thomas G. Parisi, Berks County Court of Common Pleas – 23rd Judicial District of Pennsylvania.

Mar 13, 2020

Some Courts in Pennsylvania have been the target of recent telephone scams in which payments have been demanded from the public to pay bail, fines and costs, fines for failure to appear for jury duty or a court appearance, and or expenses for family members allegedly incarcerated.  Neither Courts and or any court officers will ever request over the phone payment by credit card, gift card, PayPal or any other means of electronic funds transfer for any reason. Should you receive a phone call from anyone claiming to represent the Court do not provide any sensitive information (date of birth, social security number, or bank information) or any form of payment to any caller.

Although no telephone scams have been reported in Berks County, it is important that the public is aware that telephone scams involving the Courts have occurred elsewhere in the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Anyone receiving calls should immediately hang up and contact their local and or the state police as well as the Pa. Office of Attorney General, Bureau of Consumer Protection at 1-800-441-2555 or [email protected].

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