A Haverford Township woman paid $17,000 after a caller posing as a sheriff’s office representative claimed there was a warrant for her arrest.
The caller presented the money as a bond payment that would resolve the supposed warrant.
The woman followed the instructions before realizing that the arrest threat was a scam.
Police have not disclosed how she paid, identified a suspect or reported that any of the $17,000 was recovered.
Police Did Not Say How the Money Was Sent
The incident occurred July 15, 2026, in the 1600 block of Rose Glen Road, according to The Delaware County Daily Times. She sent the money and later recognized that the warrant and payment demand were fraudulent.
Haverford police did not identify the bank account, payment service, cryptocurrency wallet or other destination that received the $17,000.
Another Woman Was Directed to a Cryptocurrency Machine
Haverford police documented another sheriff’s office impersonation call two days later in the 1700 block of Melrose Avenue. That caller also claimed there was a warrant for the recipient’s arrest.
The woman was instructed to withdraw $14,000 in cash and deposit it into a cryptocurrency machine. The police blotter does not say that she completed the withdrawal or cryptocurrency transaction.
A Real Warrant Cannot Be Cleared With a Phone Payment
The Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office has warned that sheriff impersonators use spoofed telephone numbers and arrest threats to demand immediate payments. The Federal Trade Commission says a real officer will not call to threaten arrest or say that hanging up will cause police to arrive.
Law-enforcement officers do not call residents and offer a paid “second chance” to avoid arrest. Courts and government agencies also do not require bond, fines or warrant payments through cryptocurrency machines, gift cards, payment apps or wire-transfer services.
Anyone who has already paid should contact the bank, card issuer, money-transfer service, payment app or cryptocurrency-machine operator immediately and identify the transaction as fraud.
The Warrant Unit Can Be Called Directly
Someone receiving a warrant threat in Delaware County can end the call and contact the sheriff’s office independently. The official Delaware County directory lists the Sheriff’s Office main number as 610-891-4296 and the Bench Warrant Unit as 610-891-8605.
Haverford Township police can be reached at 610-853-1298 for nonemergency reports. Anyone who believes an arrest or cash collection is imminent should call 911.