People who think they’ve gotten a phone call from Tarentum police Chief Bill Vakulick are likely part of a new phone scam, authorities said.
Borough police are warning residents about fraudulent calls cropping up in the borough and Brackenridge after people reported getting a call from someone claiming to be Vakulick or another officer — from a number that looks like it’s coming from the borough.
“These scammers are using spoofed phone numbers to make it appear as though the calls are coming from borough or police department numbers, including 724-224-1515, 724-224-1516 and 724-224-1818,” according to a police social media post early Monday.
Some of the callers deliver a message intended to scare residents, saying that they are wanted by Homeland Security or that there are warrants issued for their arrest.
Law enforcement agencies would not conduct business like this, according to Tarentum police’s post.
If a warrant is issued, officers will respond in person or the resident will receive a notice by mail or through the court system.
People are urged to not provide personal or financial information or to provide gift cards to anyone contacting them by phone and claiming to be law enforcement.
Across the country, older Americans appear prone to fake calls and emails soliciting money for charities, family emergencies or other schemes, the Federal Trade Commission reported.
Just last week, the U.S. Secret Service took over an investigation into a scam that took about $154,000 from an elderly South Huntingdon woman.
She received messages that her Amazon account had been hacked and when she followed up, a scammer claimed to be from the FTC and requested payment to resolve the issue.
The woman sent about $9,000 cash to Florida, followed up by two certified checks in excess of $71,000 and $73,000, according to a news release.
The number of older adults who reported losing $10,000 or more through business or government imposter scams has increased fourfold in four years to 8,269 in 2024, according to the FTC.
Pennsylvanians lost more than $118 million in phone scams and other fraud schemes in 2023, according to the FBI website.
This newest scam in Tarentum follows one from last month where callers, falsely claiming to be police, were contacting businesses and residents and advising them that they allegedly missed jury duty, were in contempt of court and had to make payment to avoid arrest or other legal action.
“Law enforcement agencies and courts do not demand payment over the phone, through gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers or similar methods in order to resolve jury duty matters or avoid arrest,” police said through a social media post at the time.
Anyone who receives a call should hang up and call police or visit the department at 318 Second Ave.