Northampton County District Attorney Stephen Baratta is alerting the public to scams targeting residents.

In telephone calls and voicemails, someone claiming to be a sheriff’s deputy called “Sergeant Butler” or “Sergeant Walker,” the residents are told they have missed jury duty and must pay a sum to the county. He claims that failure to obtain a MoneyPak (Green Dot Card) to make the payment will result in their arrest.

Baratta reminds the community that the county will never ask for payments like this over the phone. Victims of this scam are asked to contact Chief County Detective Brad Jones at bjones@norcopa.gov.

Police have also recently charged Edward Joseph Mara Sr. with multiple counts of home improvement fraud. Mara has allegedly operated under various business names advertised as performing pool, fence, landscaping, brickwork and concrete services. Calling himself Edward Mara, Chris Mara, and variations thereof, his business names include Splash, Splash Concrete, Splash Contracting, Splash Swimming Pool, SPL, North East Pool Depot, T&C Contracting, SPL Contracting and Blue Water Fiberglas Pools, all from a business address at 5639 Kesslerville Road in Easton.

If ay member of the public has information to report about Mara or any of his identified businesses, contact the DA’s office at 610-829-6646.