PSP: Hempfield Township woman scammed out of $11,250 by caller posing as sheriff’s office

On July 27, 2026, a caller claiming to be staff from the Westmoreland County Sheriff’s Office told a 52-year-old Hempfield Township woman she had missed jury duty and needed to pay a fine in bitcoin to avoid arrest, resulting in a loss of $11,250. Pennsylvania State Police and the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office urge residents to hang up on suspicious calls, never share personal information, and never pay with gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency; report suspected scams to local authorities.