LAWRENCE CO. – The Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department is warning residents about a concerning scam circulating in the area. Numerous individuals have received calls today from fraudsters falsely claiming to be Sgt. Flowers from the Sheriff’s Department attempted to extort money by claiming the recipients had missed jury duty.
These calls are scams. Sgt. Flowers does not work at the Sheriff’s Department, and the phone number is a private number when received.
The scam involves an “urgent” and unexpected call or email from someone impersonating an officer, deputy, or U.S. Marshal. These scammers claim that the recipient failed to appear for jury duty and will face immediate arrest unless a payment is made. Often, the targeted individuals never received a jury summons and recognize that this is not standard court procedure.
Authorities emphasize that scammers use this tactic to steal money and potentially personal information, which could lead to identity theft if Social Security numbers or dates of birth are provided.
The Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) are urging residents to be aware of the red flags associated with this scam:
- Demands for immediate payment over the phone: Legitimate courts and government agencies will never demand payment over the phone.
- Insistence on specific payment methods: Scammers often pressure victims to pay using gift cards, payment apps, cryptocurrency, or wire transfer services like Western Union or MoneyGram. Legitimate entities do not operate this way.
- Requests for sensitive personal information: Courts will NEVER ask potential jurors for sensitive information like their Social Security number or birthdate over the phone.
If you receive a call or email matching this description, authorities advise you NOT to respond. Do not provide any payment or personal information. If you have doubts about the legitimacy of a communication regarding jury duty, it is crucial to verify the information independently.
You can check the court’s official website for jury duty information or call the Lawrence County Courts directly using an accurate phone number.
