PUNXSUTAWNEY – Registered sex offenders are increasingly being targeted by scammers in Pennsylvania.
According to Punxsutawney-based state police, offenders are being contacted by a caller claiming to be a law enforcement official.
Then, they are reportedly advising the offender that they aren’t in compliance with their registration requirements.
“Sometimes, [the caller] claims to hold a warrant for the offender’s arrest,” state police say.
The offenders are being advised the matter can be resolved if they obtain some form of cash card and or arrange a money transfer.
“An individual who receives such a call should not initiate any type of financial transaction without further verifying its validity.
“The PSP do not solicit registered sex offenders for any type of monetary compensation to gain compliance.
“Issues are only resolved by an offender appearing at an approved registration site or by personal contact with law enforcement.”
Any offender who receives such a call and has a question concerning their compliance status should call 1-866-771-3170.
Any individual who believes they may have been a victim of similar fraudulent activity should:
- attempt to verify the incoming phone number;
- obtain as much information as possible about the caller;
- note details of the provided instructions to resolve the issue; and
- contact their local police agency.
“These perpetrators can be very difficult to locate,” state police say. “An electronic money transfer can be done in minutes, and often funds can’t be recovered.”