Jury Duty Phone Scam Targets DeKalb Residents

DECATUR, GA -- The DeKalb County Sheriff is warning residents about a telephone scam being reported in the area.

Sheriff Jeffery L. Mann said that the scam involves a caller impersonating sheriff’s deputies. Recipients are told that an arrest warrant has been issued against them for failing to appear for jury duty. The scammer then offers to accept payment via pre-paid cards and solicits bank account information from residents.

“The call is a scam – a hoax,” Mann said in a news release sent to Patch. “The sheriff’s office will never call a person to say they will be arrested unless they pay a fine for not appearing for jury duty. Individuals who are called for jury duty are notified by mail if they fail to appear.”

This is not the first time metro Atlanta law enforcement has warned residents of phone scammers. Hoaxes have been identified by local police departments in Douglasville, and even from state prison. Most recently, scammers attempted to collect personal information from residents in Kennesaw.

The DeKalb County scam callers have used law officers' names and badge numbers, Mann said. He urges anyone who receives such a call to hang up.

Such scams can be reported to the local FBI office, he said.

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