10/13/2026
Sheriff Nicholas Chimienti Jr. Issues Urgent Warning as Phone Scammers Steal Thousands from Dauphin County Residents
Scammers impersonating Sheriff’s Office personnel are using threats of arrest, fake warrants, Bitcoin, Cash App, Zelle, Venmo and prepaid gift cards, to defraud unsuspecting victims.
Dauphin County Sheriff Nicholas Chimienti Jr. is issuing an urgent warning to residents following a significant increase in reports of an ongoing phone scam in which individuals impersonate Sheriff’s Office personnel and threaten victims with arrest unless they immediately send money.
In recent days, Dauphin County residents have reported losing thousands of dollars to these scammers, with individual losses of $5,000, $8,500, $9,000, and $10,000. In one recent case, a local physician reportedly lost $10,000 after being directed to complete Bitcoin transactions before realizing the call was fraudulent after arriving at the Sheriff’s Office in Harrisburg. Last week a distraught woman from Swatara Township arrived at the Sheriff’s Office Permit Office with her two young children and a puppy after realizing she had been victimized by the scam. The victim was threatened with jail unless she paid $5,000. She ultimately sent money using Venmo and Bitcoin.
Sheriff Chimienti said the emotional and financial toll on victims is deeply concerning, particularly because the callers are skilled at manipulating people through fear, intimidation, and deception. People need to understand that these scammers are very convincing. They know how to create fear and make you believe you are in immediate danger of being arrested. They use official-sounding language, personal information, and threats to pressure people into making quick decisions without stopping to verify what they are being told.
Even the Sheriff Received a Scam Call
In a particularly alarming development, Sheriff Chimienti himself recently received a call from someone claiming to be a Lieutenant working in his own Sheriff’s Office. The scammer had the Sheriff’s full name and home address and claimed to have conducted a background check on him. The scammer alleged that multiple arrest warrants had been issued for the Sheriff and claimed the caller wanted to protect his otherwise clean criminal record from being affected.
The scammers claim was especially revealing because the individual was attempting to impersonate a member of the very office led by the person he was trying to defraud. It is unbelievable that someone would call the Sheriff and claim to be a Lieutenant in our own office while threatening him with arrest warrants. If they are willing to call the Sheriff and try this, imagine what they are doing to unsuspecting members of our community!
Just a few weeks ago, a very intelligent person lost $5,000 to this scam as was still taken advantage of. This can happen to anyone. There is no reason for victims to feel embarrassed, and we want people to report these incidents so we can warn others and help prevent additional losses. While typing the news release, a woman called the Sheriff’s Office indicating that her son was incarcerated at Dauphin County Prison. She indicated she just received a call from scammers purporting to be from the prison. Scammers then produced her son’s name as they knew he was incarcerated and that she needed to pay a $500.00 down payment for a $2500.00 total fee and that her son would be released immediately on an ankle monitor. The Sheriff’s Office then advised her of the scam, as we are averting many victims each day from monetary loss.
How the Scam Works
Scammers typically contact victims by telephone and claim the person has failed to appear for jury duty, is in contempt of court, has missed a court appearance, or has some other outstanding legal matter. The caller may claim that a judge has issued an arrest warrant and threaten that the victim will be arrested and taken directly to prison unless immediate payment is made. In some cases, the scammers use fabricated names of deputies and claim to work at the Dauphin County Courthouse. They may also contact family members of incarcerated individuals and falsely claim additional payments are required to secure their loved one’s release.
Initially, victims may be instructed to report to the courthouse with $2,000 in cash or face detention. They scammers then direct the victims to follow through with further demands to include instructions to:
• Purchase Bitcoin or conduct cryptocurrency transactions at local businesses.
• Purchase prepaid Visa, MoneyPak, or similar money cards, often in $500 increments.
• Provide the redemption codes on the backs of prepaid cards, allowing scammers to access the funds.
• Send money through Venmo, Cash App, or Zelle accounts provided by the callers.
The callers frequently insist that victims remain on the telephone while driving to a pharmacy, grocery store, or other business to purchase cards or complete transactions. They discourage victims from hanging up, contacting family members, or speaking with law enforcement because they know that another person may recognize the scam and intervene. This pressure to remain on the phone and keep the transaction secret is a major warning sign.
Caller ID Can Be Faked
Sheriff Chimienti emphasized that scammers may use caller ID spoofing technology to make an incoming call appear to originate from the actual telephone number of the Dauphin County Sheriff’s Office. As a result, a victim may see the Sheriff’s Office telephone number on their phone and mistakenly believe the call is legitimate. A phone number displayed is not proof of the caller’s identity. Scammers may also possess personal information, including names and home addresses, which they use to make their threats appear credible. The Sheriff’s Office cautions residents not to rely on caller ID or the caller’s knowledge of personal information to determine whether a call is legitimate.
The Dauphin County Sheriff’s Office Will Never Demand These Payments. These threatening calls are fraudulent and do not originate from the Dauphin County Sheriff’s Office.
The Sheriff’s Office does not demand payment by Bitcoin, cryptocurrency, Venmo, Cash App, Zelle, prepaid Visa cards, MoneyPak cards, or other monetary devices to prevent an arrest. Residents should never provide sensitive personal or financial information or disclose prepaid card redemption codes to someone making threatening demands over the telephone.
If someone claims to be a Lieutenant, Sergeant, Deputy, or other Sheriff’s Office employee and threatens immediate arrest unless money is sent, residents should:
Hang up immediately. Do not remain on the phone with the caller.
Do not send money. Never purchase cryptocurrency or prepaid cards or transfer funds because of a threatening telephone call.
Do not share personal information. Never provide banking information, identification details, passwords, verification codes, or prepaid card redemption numbers.
Verify independently. Contact the Sheriff’s Office at
717-780-6590 an independently verified telephone number, not a number supplied by the caller. If you believe it is a scam you may verify it directly.
Victims Should Not Be Embarrassed to Come Forward
Sheriff Chimienti stressed that one of the most troubling aspects of these scams is that victims may be reluctant to report what happened because they feel embarrassed or ashamed. These criminals are deliberately exploiting people’s fear of going to jail and their desire to do the right thing. They are using intimidation and sophisticated deception to get people to hand over their hard-earned money.
If you have been scammed, please do not let embarrassment keep you from reporting it. You are not alone, and reporting the crime may help prevent another person or family member from suffering the same financial loss. Victims who have already sent money should immediately contact their bank, payment provider, cryptocurrency platform, or prepaid card issuer to report the transaction and ask whether the funds can be stopped or recovered. They should also report the incident to local police.
How to Report the Scam
Residents who receive suspicious calls or believe they have been victimized may contact:
Local Police Department-Report financial losses to your local police department that covers your area.
Dauphin County Sheriff’s Office-Contact the office through its independently verified official telephone number to verify if you believe it is a scam.
Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection
Toll-free helpline: 1-800-441-2555
The Dauphin County Sheriff’s Office urges all residents to share this warning with family members, friends, neighbors, and especially those who may be more vulnerable to threats involving arrest or court proceedings.
Remember: No legitimate law enforcement officer will demand Bitcoin, Venmo, Cash App, Zelle, payments, or prepaid gift card codes over the telephone to make an arrest warrant go away. Please share and put in your first comment section.
