Sheriff's Office Warns of Fraudulent 'Alarming' Incoming Calls

The Blair County Sheriff’s Office is reporting having received reports that the main phone number to the Blair County Courthouse is being used for fraudulent purposes in spoofing call incidents. The number is (814) 693-3000.

This scam is targeting residents with an elaborate story in which people are being led to believe their loved ones are in danger. The caller asks for personal and banking information. The call is intended to create alarm and intense worry in the person receiving the call.

The sheriff’s department says that those who get a call like this should get off the phone as quickly as possible without giving the caller any of requested information. Do not let the caller keep you on the line, no matter how urgent the matter seems to be.

After you hang up, follow up the incoming call by calling the loved one who is supposedly in trouble, using a phone number which you know is theirs. Or call another family member who can get in touch with the person who is supposedly in trouble.

The Blair County Sheriff’s Office is asking for everyone’s help by talking about this scam with relatives, friends and neighbors. By doing so, you can help someone else avoid being taken advantage of.

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission defines spoofing like this:

Spoofing is when a caller deliberately falsifies the information transmitted to your caller ID display to disguise their identity. Scammers often use neighbor spoofing so it appears that an incoming call is coming from a local number, or spoof a number from a company or a government agency that you may already know and trust. If you answer, they use scam scripts to try to steal your money or valuable personal information, which can be used in fraudulent activity.

If you think you've been the victim of a spoofing scam, you can file a complaint with the FCC by going to fcc.gov and searching for “spoofing.” Click on one of the links to read about spoofing and how to file a complaint.