***PRESS RELEASE - SERIOUS SCAM ALERT***PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE MEDIA AND PUBLIC RELEASE
July 18, 2024
Good afternoon everyone: Please share this VERY SERIOUS SCAM information with friends, family, and neighbors. This week our Office began receiving calls from residents of the County who were receiving phone calls at home, at work, and on personal cell phones, from a male caller who had one of the following messages for residents that he targeted: “I am from the Lycoming County Sheriff’s Office and a warrant has been issued for your ARREST”, also, “This is ”Mark Lusk” with the Lycoming County Sheriff’s Office, you have outstanding fines and need to meet me to sign a bail piece” or “This is Scott Henry, Badge # and phone ” and you have charges for not showing up for Jury Duty saying you need to come to meet him at 48 West 3rd Street at a Kiosk to pay $1,000, another is go to National Bank for 1 checks (that you would get reimbursed for) along with your odometer reading when you leave.
The Lycoming County Sheriff’s Office recognizes this information and callers to be a scam. BEFORE you give ANYONE your personal information, ALWAYS call the agency the caller’s purports to be. DO NOT meet with anyone to sign a “bail piece” or get them a check. The Office of The Sheriff does not conduct business in this manner. In this case, PLEASE call the Office of Lycoming County Sheriff at 570.327.2280 to report any scam calls that you have received.
Below is a summary of how to safeguard yourself from becoming the victim of any SCAM:
- Under no circumstances should a resident ever PROVIDE ANY PERSONAL INFORMATION by phone when receiving any calls unless the resident personally knows the caller.
- Never provide ANY CREDIT CARD INFORMATION to anyone whom the resident does not personally know or with whom a resident has not initiated the call.
- Note any TELEPHONE NUMBER of the caller, which is indicated on the resident’s telephone system.
- DOCUMENT THE CONVERSATION with the suspect making the call.
- Disconnect without providing any information to the caller.
- CALL THE OFFICE OF THE LYCOMING COUNTY SHERIFF AT 570.327.2280 IF A RESIDENT HAS ANY CONCERNS THAT HE OR SHE MAY BE A WANTED PERSON OR TO INQUIRE IF THE OFFICE OF SHERIFF HAS ANY REASON TO MAKE CONTACT WITH YOU. NOTE: The Office of Sheriff does not conduct business in this manner by telephone.
- Any residents who have ALREADY received any calls similar to these described, are requested to call the Office of Lycoming County Sheriff to report the calls.
- Typically, criminals who are questioned by YOU will become very uncooperative.
- Criminals are able to access much of our personal information simply with use of personal computers and websites that have our personal information. Such sites are “white pages and social media sites”, etc.
These series of scam attempts are currently being criminally investigated by the Lycoming County Sheriff’s Office and Detectives from the Office of Lycoming County District Attorney.
Please share this information with friends, relatives and neighbors in an effort to prevent them from becoming a victim. Also report to the Pennsylvania Attorney General at https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/submit-a-complaint/scams-complaint/
Or call our office as shown above or the PA Office of Attorney General 717-787-3391.
As your Sheriff, I personally apologize to any residents who have received any such calls from any individuals in this attempt to commit fraud and possibly identity theft.
***EFFECTIVE 2024 SHERIFF REAL ESTATE SALES***Due to the sale of Executive Plaza, the 2024 Sheriff Sales will be held at the Trade & Transit Centre II, Michael Ross Event Center on the 3rd floor, 144 West 3rd Street, Williamsport PA 17701. This is directly across from the West Third Street parking Garage.
Thank you for your understanding.
Sheriff Lusk
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