The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents to be wary of bogus telephone calls concerning jury duty. The Sheriff’s Office has received numerous reports from residents about phone calls purportedly from a sheriff’s deputy, falsely advising them that warrants had been issued against them because they had failed to appear for jury duty.
The caller then provides a phone number, which leads to a computer-generated answering machine falsely claiming to be the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Civil Division. Capt. Gary Higginbotham said so far, no one who has reported the scam to the Sheriff’s Office has gotten through to the computer-generated answering machine.
Some didn’t call the number and others who did call got a busy signal. He said he suspects that anyone who does get through will be asked for personal information.
The Sheriff’s Office advises anyone who receives a call that sounds suspicious to end the call and never give personal or financial information to a stranger.
“The actual motive(s) of these unknown person(s) are not evident at this time,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a press release. “The unknown person(s) may be attempting to obtain your credit card information or your personal information to steal your identity.”
Anyone receiving such a call is urged to report it during business hours to the Sheriff’s Office through Jefferson County 911 Dispatch, 636-797-9999; the Sheriff’s Office North Zone Office, 636-797-6216; or the East Zone Office. 636-797-6405.