PITTSBURGH — Allegheny County Sheriff Kraus announced that scam warning placards have been attached to ATMs in Downtown Pittsburgh court facilities to protect visitors from financial fraud.
The placards instruct individuals to hang up immediately if a caller demands monetary deposits under threat of arrest.
The posted warnings address phone scams where callers direct victims to stay on the line until funds are deposited into an ATM or a cryptocurrency kiosk.
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The signs reinforce that the sheriff’s office, the courts and all other law enforcement agencies will never demand payment over the phone using cryptocurrency, remote ATM access, gift cards or QR codes.
Placards have been placed above ATMs in the Treasurer’s Office inside the courthouse, at two locations within the Family Court Facility and in the County Office Building. Additional warning signs are posted at security checkpoints throughout the courthouse.
Sheriff Kraus detailed the high-pressure strategies used by fraudsters to manipulate potential victims. “Scammers employ high-pressure tactics and use official-looking documents to increase the stress levels in victims to make them feel they have no choice but to comply,” Kraus said. “These warnings are designed to help potential victims realize what is happening and give them the confidence to end the call and remove themselves from a situation that could result in them losing thousands of dollars.”
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