AMELIA COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — The Amelia County Sheriff’s Office has issued a warning about a phone scam targeting county residents.
According to the office, it has received reports about scam calls wherein the scammer, impersonating a law enforcement officer, tells the victim they failed to report for jury duty. They then threaten the victim with prosecution or jail time to intimidate them into paying a “fine” to avoid arrest.
The scammer may attempt to seem more authentic by stating a title or badge number, the latter of which is sometimes connected to an actual officer, according to the office. Additionally, they may also “spoof,” or digitally alter, their phone number so the call comes to a victim’s phone looking like a legitimate court or agency.
These calls are not at all genuine, the office wrote in its March 8 Facebook post.
“Federal courts or government agencies do not call prospective jurors and ask for money or personal information over the telephone,” the post reads. “Do not provide any personal information or banking information over the telephone. Trust your instincts: if an unknown caller pressures you, or says things that don’t sound right, hang up.”
If you or someone you know was targeted by this scam or any other, contact your local law enforcement agency to report it. The Amelia County Sheriff’s Office can be reached at 804-561-2118.
