Scammers posing as Pennsylvania employees to target elderly

(WHTM) — Officials warn older Pennsylvanians should watch out for scammers posing as state officials.

Multiple departments said scammers are using fake Commonwealth emails claiming to be a representative of a credit union and informing the victim that a relative from another country left a large inheritance in their name. 

“Older adults are at increased risk of being targeted by scams due to savings accumulated over a lifetime of steady work,” said Secretary of Aging Jason Kavulich. “These crimes can destroy carefully planned retirements and devastate families.”

As part of the scam, officials said the scammers request upfront fees, often totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars over one year, in order for the inheritance to be released. The scammers tell their victims that the only resource that can provide assistance is their agency, officials added.

However, Kavulich said anyone who is the target of a scam should immediately contact someone they trust, including their family or their local Agency on Aging.

“Above all, never be embarrassed to reach out, because scams can happen to anyone,” Kavulich said.

The warning follows similar ones issued by law enforcement in the state. Earlier this month, the Lower Paxton Township Bureau of Police said it received reports that scammers are posing as the Dauphin County Sheriff’s Office over the phone.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday also recently joined 42 other AGs in sending a letter to Meta urging it to combat scam advertisements on its platforms.

“Scammers today are becoming more and more sophisticated, so Pennsylvanians needs to be vigilant of any and all solicitations — even if the voice on the other end sounds authentic,” Sunday said.

Despite the rise in scams, there are ways Pennsylvanians can protect themselves, officials said.

How to Protect Yourself:

• Don’t respond to suspicious emails or texts
• Don’t trust messages about winning money or getting an inheritance
• Do not feel pressured to act quickly or in secrecy
• Check email addresses. Scammers can spoof emails, sending an email that looks like it is from a trusted source. Official emails from Pennsylvania state agencies always end in @pa.gov
• Watch out for fake websites. Official Pennsylvania Commonwealth websites end in pa.gov and will always display the Commonwealth logo with the text “Official website of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania” on the top left corner of a web page
• Know that Pennsylvania agencies will not threaten immediate legal action or license suspension without proper notice.

Consumers should also never share personal information such as account numbers or social security numbers.

Anyone who feels they have been scammed can file a complaint with the Office of Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection at www.attorneygeneral.gov or by calling 1-800-441-2555.