LCSO warns of ‘jury duty scam’ involving impersonation of employee, judge

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is warning area residents against a scam involving the impersonation of a sheriff’s office employee and judge.

It involves the scammer calling the victim stating an arrest warrant “has been issued for failure to show up for jury duty or grand jury summons,” the sheriff’s office said.

The caller informed the victim it can be avoided if a fine is paid, and the scammer then provided a list of instructions to purchase a reloadable prepaid card.

There haven’t been reports of victims losing money to this scam, according to the sheriff’s office.

The sheriff’s office does not contact people via phone, email or text when asking for money, as well as threatening arrest for those who fail to respond to a jury summons.

The sheriff’s office provided the following tips when dealing with a scam like this:

• Courts and cops do not call consumers about jury duty. Notice about jury duty will
  come by mail.
• A call from someone you do not know requesting money be sent via a wire transfer or
  prepaid card is most certainly a scam.
• Do not respond out of fear. If you receive such a call, gather the information and
  follow up with the Lee County Clerk of Court at 239-533-9153.
• To report it as a scam, call the Lee County Sheriff’s Office Fraud Line at 239-258-3292.