Williamson County Sheriff’s Office warns of ongoing jury duty phone scam

FOX23 News at 9 p.m

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Ill., (KBSI) — The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about an ongoing phone scam involving callers posing as law enforcement officers and demanding money.

According to Sheriff Jeff Diederich, the department continues to receive reports from residents who have received fraudulent calls from people claiming to be Williamson County sheriff’s deputies.

The scammers reportedly tell victims they failed to report for jury duty and claim citations or arrest warrants have been issued. In some cases, callers tell residents they must appear before a judge to resolve the matter.

Authorities said some victims have then been transferred to another person claiming to be a captain or supervisor with the sheriff’s office. The scammers demand large payments to resolve the alleged warrant or court matter.

The sheriff’s office said it will never call someone and demand payment to avoid arrest, resolve a warrant or jury duty violation, or prevent a court appearance.

Deputies will also never demand payment through gift cards, prepaid cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers or electronic payment apps.

Authorities warned that scammers may use the names of real law enforcement officers, manipulate caller ID information or provide badge and case numbers to make the calls appear legitimate.

Anyone who receives a suspicious call is urged not to provide personal or financial information, send money or continue the conversation. Residents who are unsure whether a call is legitimate should hang up and contact the sheriff’s office directly using its publicly listed phone number.

The sheriff’s office is also encouraging residents to share the warning with family members and others who may be vulnerable to financial scams.