PA (WJAC) — Both the PFBC (Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission) and the Pennsylvania Game Commission are warning fishermen and hunters about online licensing scams that have recently been reported.
According to a release, customers reported that they had purchased licenses through a third-party website that looked similar to the real Outdoor Shop, the PFBC and the Game Commission’s online purchasing portal, but never received a license.
“The only proven, reputable and reliable methods for purchasing Pennsylvania fishing licenses and permits are through the PFBC’s online portal The Outdoor Shop or in-person from a retail license issuing agent,” said Bernie Matscavage, director of the PFBC Bureau of Administration. “If you choose to use a third-party website offering to sell you a fishing license, you risk wasting your money and putting your personal information at risk.”
Customers are advised to be aware of these look-alike sites and to not give away any personal information to any websites that seem suspicious.
“There is absolutely no advantage to using a third-party website to buy a license,” added Matscavage. “Customers to these websites are being asked to provide the same information as they would if they purchased a license securely through the agencies directly. The difference is that by using a third-party site, you are paying an unnecessary added fee, compromising your identity, and will likely not end up receiving a license at all.”
Potential and repeat customers should always remember that when purchasing a fishing or hunting license, you will be notified immediately that your purchase went through; fishing licenses will be sent via a printable PDF version, and hunting licenses will be confirmed by an email and then mailed to the buyer within the following two weeks.
The fish and game commissions also advise anyone who encounters a website offering the sale of a Pennsylvania fishing or hunting license that does not link to The Outdoor Shop to call the PFBC Fishing License Help Line at (877)707-4085 or the Game Commission’s license division at (717)787-2084. And victims of a license scam should notify the PA attorney general by completing a Scams Complaint Form.
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