Harrisburg, PA – Today, the Pennsylvania Insurance Department (PID), Pennsylvania Department of Aging, Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities (DoBS), and Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), along with the Office of Attorney General, today warn Pennsylvanians to stay vigilant after a scam was reported involving someone posing as a Commonwealth employee. The reported scam uses a fake email to target older Pennsylvanians and request money through licensed financial institutions to receive a fake inheritance by using convincing language.
“Scammers exploit trust and perceived authority to steal money – often from vulnerable individuals,” said Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Michael Humphreys. “Please call us if a benefit or situation sounds too good to be true, because often it is. We strongly urge Pennsylvanians to connect with family, a trusted advisor, or any of our agencies before engaging with individuals offering unsolicited prizes, benefits, or payments.”
In the incident reported to Commonwealth officials, an older Pennsylvanian received an email from a generic account that resembled an official Commonwealth email address claiming to be a representative of an alleged credit union located outside the United States and informed the victim that a wealthy distant relative from another country had left a large inheritance in their name. The Pennsylvanian was asked to pay upfront fees in order for the inheritance to be released – the fees would total hundreds of thousands of dollars over nearly a one-year period – and was informed that the only resource that could provide assistance was the representative’s agency.
“Older adults are at increased risk of being targeted by scams due to savings accumulated over a lifetime of steady work. These crimes can destroy carefully planned retirements and devastate families,” said Secretary of Aging Jason Kavulich. “Older adults being approached by anyone they don’t know with an offer of money or an emergency they need to act on quickly, need to stop and reach out to someone they can trust – and that includes their family members or a reliable community contact like their local Area Agency on Aging. Above all, never be embarrassed to reach out, because scams can happen to anyone.”
How to Protect Yourself:
- Don’t respond to suspicious emails or texts;
- Don’t trust messages about winning money or getting an inheritance from someone you do not know;
- 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; and
- Know that Pennsylvania agencies will not threaten immediate legal action or license suspension without proper notice.
“Sadly, scams come in many forms such as emails, texts or phone calls, and are often unsolicited with scammers frequently posing as loved ones, trusted businesses or government agencies,” said DoBS Secretary Wendy Spicher. “It’s imperative that consumers never share personal information such as account numbers or social security numbers, take time to verify all information before taking any action, and never send money or cryptocurrency to someone you don’t know. The best defense is a healthy skepticism, so if you believe you have been a victim of financial fraud, we encourage you to contact DoBS or law enforcement directly for assistance.”
The Shapiro Administration, recognizing that scams take many forms requiring protective action by multiple state agencies, is championing a collaborative approach to educate consumers and share resources. Governor Josh Shapiro has spent his career fighting for Pennsylvania consumers — as Attorney General, he created the Consumer Financial Protection Unit within the Office of Attorney General — holding mortgage lenders accountable for redlining and cracking down on predatory student loan practices. As Governor, he has directed his Administration to use all available resources to protect Pennsylvanians and state agencies to use all available authority to fight scams and fraud.
The Administration is supporting much-needed updates to Pennsylvania’s Older Adult Protective Services Act to include specific financial exploitation protections for older Pennsylvanians. This includes giving entities such as Area Agencies on Aging, banks and law enforcement the resources and tools to work together more quickly and easily to prevent theft and recoup hard-earned retirement savings. Additionally, DoBS Financial Education, Protection and Outreach staff travel across the Commonwealth to teach consumers how to protect their money in an engaging and informative way. To learn more about DoBS free, non-commercial financial education programs or request a customized presentation, visit the DoBS Events Calendar or contact the team at 1-800-PA-BANKS or via email at informed@pa.gov.
What to Do If You’re Contacted:
- Do not provide any personal or financial information;
- Do not send money. Hang up immediately if the call feels suspicious;
- Report the incident to PID or DoBS at 1-866-PAComplaint or through the Commonwealth’s website at pa.gov/consumer; and
- File a report with the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office or your local law enforcement if you believe you’ve been targeted or scammed.
“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,” said Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday. “My office is constantly working with Pennsylvanians who are targeted in imposter scams, and we recently took legal action against a solicitation company allegedly posing as a federal agency. Always take the time to think and research before providing personal information or sending money.”
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.
“Scammers thrive on fear and secrecy. Shining a light on their schemes empowers law enforcement to act swiftly, collaborate effectively, and ensure scammers are identified, apprehended, and held accountable,” said PSP Commissioner Colonel Christopher Paris.
The Departments are working with law enforcement to track and stop these fraudulent activities. Pennsylvanians are encouraged to help spread the word to prevent others from becoming victims.