Lehigh County Sheriff Joseph N. Hanna has announced that telephone scams are on the increase again throughout Lehigh County and the surrounding region. Citizens have reported receiving phone calls from persons representing themselves to be Deputies, Detectives and/ or members of the Lehigh County Sheriff’s Office. Hanna cautions that telephone scam artists are continuing to victimize citizens using various confidence schemes.

Hanna advises that the Lehigh County Sheriff’s Office does not request any moneys for alleged fines, failure to appear for court or jury duty via telephone conversations. He advises the public not to disclose their personal biographical information over the telephone. This includes but is not limited to Social Security numbers, credit and/or debit card information, banking and/or checking account numbers, balance amounts and other financial details. The public should not respond to specific locations that are requested by an individual over the telephone without first verifying the nature and authenticity of the request by law enforcement. Citizens should also use extreme caution if any person requests their home address or place of residence over the telephone.

Citizens should make every effort to verify the origin and identity of the caller. Our public is reminded that they can contact the Lehigh County Sheriff’s Office at 610-782-3175 during business hours, or the Lehigh County Communications Center (24) hours a day, at the nonemergency number 610-437-5252.