The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about an ongoing scam involving callers claiming victims have an active warrant for failing to appear for jury duty or grand jury service.
The scammers are using the real names of current Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies, as well as former sheriff’s office deputies, and pretending to be those individuals in an attempt to make the call appear legitimate and obtain money from citizens.
The scammers may tell you that a warrant has been issued for your arrest because you failed to report for jury duty or grand jury service. They may threaten with immediate arrest unless a payment is made.
The PCSO asks that you do not send money or provide personal and financial information.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office will never call to demand payment over the phone that would clear a warrant or prevent an arrest. They will not require payment through gift cards, cryptocurrency, money-transfer apps, prepaid cards, or other unusual payment methods.
Because a caller knows the name of an actual or former deputy does not mean the call is legitimate. Scammers can obtain names of law enforcement personnel from public sources and social media.
Scammers can also spoof phone numbers, making a Caller ID appear to show a legitimate law enforcement number. Never provide your Social Security number, banking information, credit/debit card information, or other personal information.
Never send money or purchase gift cards because someone threatens you with arrest.
Hang up and verify the information yourself. Contact the Polk County Sheriff’s Office or the appropriate court directly using a verified phone number. This warning should be shared with family, friends, neighbors, and especially elderly residents who may be targeted by these scammers.
If someone calls claiming to be a deputy and demands money to keep from being arrested, hang up. It is a scam.
