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Residents of Onondaga County, New York, are being warned about a phone scam where callers impersonate members of the county sheriff's office. The scammers claim that the call recipient has missed jury duty and threaten arrest unless a fine is paid. According to the Onondaga County Sheriff's Office, they will never contact individuals by phone to request money.
The scam is particularly deceptive because some calls appear to come from realistic-looking caller IDs. The sheriff's office emphasizes that people should never provide personal or financial information to unsolicited callers. If you receive such a call, hang up immediately and report it to local law enforcement via 911.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) also warns that scammers often use threats of arrest to scare people into paying fines for missed jury duty. The FTC advises that these calls are fraudulent and encourages the public to learn how these scams operate to avoid falling victim. More information can be found on the FTC's website.