Latest news with #BerksCountySheriff'sOffice
![Dissecting a Berks sheriff impersonator's phone scam message [Opinion]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fs.yimg.com%2Fcv%2Fapiv2%2Fsocial%2Fimages%2Fyahoo_default_logo-1200x1200.png&w=3840&q=100){kind=logo}
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Dissecting a Berks sheriff impersonator's phone scam message [Opinion]
My friend received a call from someone who sounded like Matthew McConaughey. Besides the Texas drawl, there was something else suspicious about the caller's greeting. 'This is a sergeant, Bubby Bubbenmoyer, calling to assess the contacts with a M.L.,' the caller said. 'I'm calling from the Berks County Sheriff's Department. This is regarding a civil matter.' She was instructed to call a number with a 610 area code. 'If this is a true emergency, please hang up and dial 911,' the message advised. This was the actual transcript of the voicemail. Only the names were altered to protect the innocent. The clumsy phrasing signaled to my friend that the caller wasn't who he said he was. There might be a sergeant in the sheriff's office by that name, but it would be customary for a law enforcement officer to use their rank and last name together. In the same rather than separate sentence, he'd identify the agency he's with, i.e., 'This is Sergeant Bubbenmoyer with Berks County Sheriff's Office.' Scammers just can't seem to master the nuances of English, even if they speak it fluently. I hope they never do, because it can be a telltale sign that a caller isn't legitimate. They're trying to trick you to separate you from your money. Their inherent underhandedness trips them up midsentence, like the devil stepping on his tail. My friend didn't call the number. She called the Berks County Sheriff's Office and was told office staff there was spending the entire day answering calls from people who had received these kinds of calls. Acting Berks County Sheriff Mandy P. Miller says phone scammers have tried to pose as sheriff personnel to obtain money. The impersonators tell intended victims that they have missed jury duty or failed to appear for a court hearing. They tell the victims they could be detained if they show up in person. To avoid that, they pressure the victims to send a payment via cryptocurrency such as bitcoin. It's hard to believe anyone would fall for these tactics, especially when the caller demands payment via gift cards and cryptocurrency, which require the victim to jump through several hoops to make the payments. A surefire way to avoid falling prey to a scam is to hang up when you receive a payment demand call. 'We need to get the point across that the sheriffs do not collect money, nor do they or any governmental bodies deal in bitcoin,' Berks County District Attorney John T. Adams said this week. The last sentence in the scammer's message, about calling 911 if there was a true emergency, was comical. 'They called me, I didn't call them,' my friend said. 'Why would I need to hang up and dial 911?'
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Retired Reading police officer running for Berks sheriff
After a long career in law enforcement, Chris Rothermel has announced his intention to be the next sheriff of Berks County. Having retired from the Reading Police Department in December after 27 years of service, Rothermel said he thinks his extensive background in law enforcement will make him an ideal candidate to lead the office. That's why he's seeking the Republican nomination in the upcoming primary to fill a vacancy left when Eric Weaknecht won election in November to serve as the representative for the 5th Legislative District. The winner of the race will serve out the remaining two years of Weaknecht's term. Weaknecht had been sheriff since 2008, winning reelection just last year. Rothermel will face Mandy Miller, who is serving as the acting sheriff, in the May 20 election. Chris Rothermel 'I think the office is a great fit for me,' Rothermel said. 'I can parlay my experience as a police officer to the position and run the department as a law enforcement agency.' The office is responsible for elements of criminal court, civil court, enforcement of state crimes and motor vehicle codes and has a firearms licensing and enforcement function. It is staffed with 110 employees organized into six divisions — civil, court, patrol, central booking, K-9 and warrants. Rothermel said that thanks to his previous roles overseeing the criminal investigations, special services and patrol divisions of the Reading Police Department he has the skills needed to serve as sheriff. The Robeson Township resident said he knows how to implement policies to improve efficiency, he understands the importance of collaborating with other law enforcement agencies and he believes strongly in fostering a positive work environment. He said those skills are needed to be an effective sheriff. 'I would say that it's an advantage for me having been in law enforcement because there's a lot of complexity to the job,' he said. And while he may not have the 25 years of experience working in the Berks County Sheriff's Office that his opponent does, Rothermel said that bringing a fresh perspective to the post may be a good thing. 'I think that as far as experience goes I have a little bit more to bring to the job as far as diversity and I think that will be good for my campaign,' he said. 'Coming into any new job like this you're going to sit down with your command staff, get to know everyone who's there and have open and honest conversations with the people who have been there the longest think is broken and how they believe we can fix it.' Rothermel said that, if elected, he will ensure deputies are highly motivated, expertly trained and fully supported by county government. He added that part of achieving that mission will be advocating for a better contract for the union representing deputies, noting that they are often the most underpaid members of law enforcement and therefore are prone to high turnover. The county sheriff currently receives an annual salary of $101,694. Meet the candidate Candidate: Chris Rothermel, 52, Robeson Township. Position sought: Berks County sheriff. Website: Background: Rothermel retired from the Reading Police Department after 27 years of service, where he supervised criminal investigations and patrol activities. He's a graduate of the Penn State Justice and Safety Institute. He also served as a volunteer counselor and board member for the Pennsylvania State Police Camp Cadet Academy.
