Sheriff warns of scammers demanding Western Union payments for fake warrants
Scammers posing as deputy sheriffs are demanding Western Union transfers to clear fake arrest warrants. Beaver County officials say some calls even spoof the Sheriff’s Office.
Beaver County Sheriff’s Office warned that scammers are demanding immediate Western Union payments to erase fake arrest warrants, a pitch that blends law-enforcement impersonation with pressure to send money fast. KDKA relayed the public alert from Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and officials said some of the calls may even spoof caller ID numbers so they look as if they are coming from the Sheriff’s Office.
The fake callers have told targets they missed federal jury duty or failed to appear for a court date, a threat designed to sound official enough to rush people into paying. In an April 11, 2023, report, the Beaver County Times said the office received multiple complaints about a caller claiming to be Lt. Thomas Plunkard and making “initial contact on a legal matter.” Officers later confirmed those calls were fake and said they were investigating a potential phone scam.
Beaver County’s own bench-warrants page helps explain why the scheme can sound credible to someone under stress. The Sheriff’s Office says it handles bench warrants issued by the Court of Common Pleas, including warrants tied to failure to appear in criminal cases, domestic relations warrants, and violations of probation or parole. That mix of real legal terminology and urgent language is exactly what scammers try to exploit.
Western Union’s fraud guidance draws a bright line that makes the scam easier to spot. The company says it should only be used to send money to friends and family. It also warns that if someone you have not met in person asks you to send a money transfer, you should not respond. Once a transfer is sent or deposited, Western Union says it may not be able to refund the money.
The Beaver County warning fits a pattern that has shown up in other counties as well. In February 2025, the Union County Sheriff’s Office in New Jersey warned about a similar phone scam involving false arrest warrants and immediate payment demands. In March 2024, the Baker County Sheriff’s Office in Georgia warned residents about scammers claiming warrants over unpaid taxes or outstanding fines.
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