The Northampton County Sheriff’s Office is warning county residents to be on the alert for a Jury Duty Phone Scam that is targeting citizens while displaying the Sheriff’s Office telephone number on the recipient’s caller ID.
According to Sheriff David Doughty, the Northampton County Sheriff’s Office has received multiple calls from citizens reporting a phone scam involving someone claiming to represent the Sheriff’s Office. In those cases, the caller advised the citizen of a failure to report for jury duty. They were then advised that they would risk being arrested if they did not pay the requested fine amount. In most cases the caller asked the individual to come to the Sheriff’s Office but was eventually asked to obtain a prepaid credit card to satisfy the fine for failing to appear for jury duty. They were then instructed to destroy the prepaid credit card to avoid anyone else being able to use the card again. The caller in some cases has attempted to provide or claims to have specific personal information. In addition, the originating telephone number used by the scammer is displayed or “spoofed” as that of the telephone number of the Northampton County Sheriff’s Office.
The public is reminded that the Sheriff’s Office does not call private citizens requesting payment relating to court fines or fees. Citizens are also reminded to never give out unsolicited requests for personal information to callers that you don’t know. Sheriff Doughty requests that if you are contacted to please notify the Sheriff’s Office at 757-678-0458.
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