Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday is warning residents about a new variation of a cash scam in which criminals demand immediate payment to resolve a fake emergency, such as an unpaid fine or a family member in trouble.
The Office of Attorney General said it received two recent reports involving scammers who collected cash in person through an intermediary. In those two cases, victims were told they needed to hand over cash to resolve a problem that did not exist. Together, the victims lost more than $30,000.
In one case, a mother received a call claiming her out-of-state daughter had been in an accident and urgently needed $16,000. The victim was kept on the phone the entire time while the cash was picked up by an Uber driver who was unknown to her.
In the second case, a woman received a pop-up on her iPhone claiming there were fraudulent Apple Pay charges and directing her to call a toll-free number. She was then told to withdraw $15,000 in cash and was informed that a supposed government agent would come to her home to collect it. The scammer provided what was described as an “exclusive code” to make the request appear legitimate.
Sunday said cash is especially attractive to scammers because it is difficult to trace and allows them to disappear quickly. He warned consumers not to pay cash to someone they do not know and said people should end contact if they receive demands for immediate payment.
The Office of Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection advises consumers not to click on unsolicited links or computer pop-ups, not to answer unexpected calls or texts from unknown numbers, and not to withdraw cash in response to an unexpected call or message. The office also advises consumers not to share sensitive information, including bank account details, Social Security numbers, passwords, PINs, or other personal information.
Residents are also urged to slow down and speak with someone they trust before taking action if they receive a suspicious message or call. If someone claims to represent a business or government agency, consumers should look up that organization’s contact information independently and verify the claim directly.
Anyone who believes they may have been targeted by a scam is encouraged to contact the Office of Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection through its website, by phone at 1-800-441-2555, or by email at scams@attorneygeneral.gov.
