Newtown Borough police issue urgent warning about ‘phishing’ emails

🚨Newtown Borough police warn of email scam

🚨The department says it will never request payment or information via email

🚨Residents should not respond to such an email purported to come from police

NEWTOWN BOROUGH, Pa. — Emails claiming that the recipient has an outstanding warrant or fine are a scam.

Newtown Borough Police Chief James Sabath said the email looks legitimate but is nothing more than a phishing attempt to get personal and financial information. It should be ignored and not responded to.

"The Newtown Borough Police Department will never contact you via email to demand payment or request sensitive information. If you receive an email of this nature, do not respond or provide any information. Instead, report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and delete the email," Sabath said.

Police say the department will never demand payment via email

The chief said no one from the department will ever request gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers or pre-paid debit cards. No one will be threatened by the department over an email or ask you to download suspicious attachments to resolve a legal matter.

Sabath offered some tip to protect yourself from fraudulent email.

• Be cautious of unsolicited emails or calls claiming to be from the police department.
• Never provide personal or financial information to unknown individuals or entities.
• Verify the authenticity of emails and calls by contacting the Newtown Borough Police Department directly.
• Report suspicious emails to the FTC and delete them.

Sabath said scammers often rely on fear and urgency to pressure individuals into acting quickly.  He encouraged anyone with questions to contact the department.

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