A woman from Dallas County shares her close call with a potential jury duty scam.
She got a call from someone who said they were a Dallas County deputy, telling her she needed to resolve a “legal matter” connected to jury duty.
Some individuals grasp it quickly, while others may not have the same experience.
Receiving a call about potentially being arrested for missing jury duty can be quite concerning for law-abiding citizens.
A Dallas woman fell victim to a scam after receiving a highly convincing voicemail, prompting her to call the number back.
Upon hearing this message, Lisa Cobb wholeheartedly believed it.
“I work as a deputy at the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department, ma’am, and there is an urgent legal matter concerning you,” the individual falsely asserted.
Cobb returned the phone call from the deputy.
“And when he began speaking to me, he did indeed sound like it,” she remarked. “He appeared to be quite composed and serene. He displayed exceptional manners and showed great respect.
As the conversation continued, Cobb began to suspect that she was not actually speaking with a deputy.
“I told him, ‘Sir, I won’t proceed unless you provide me with your badge number,'” she recounted.
After receiving the information, Cobb promptly ended the call and contacted the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office. According to a woman who responded, she mentioned that there is currently a scam circulating.
Cobb discovered that the caller had assumed the identity of a former employee of the sheriff’s office.
Doug Sisk from the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office encounters this scam on a regular basis.
Occasionally, the individual in question is a current member of the force or a former employee. Regardless, Sisk made one thing abundantly clear.
“You will never receive a phone call from the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department asking for money due to missed jury duty,” stated Sisk.
The sheriff’s office does not make calls to request money for outstanding warrants or ask for payments in the form of gift cards, Zelle, or Venmo.
“If you receive these calls, it’s best to end the conversation,” Sisk advised. “Or if you feel like inviting them to come and arrest you!” There’s no need to worry about getting arrested.
Sisk states that all communication between the court and a potential juror will be conducted via the U.S. mail. In the event of a legal matter, an investigator would personally appear.
Cobb considers herself fortunate to have discovered the scam before it was too late, but she hopes to raise awareness so that others can avoid becoming victims.
Source: Fox-4 News