Shelbyville, Indiana – The Shelby County Sheriff’s Department is warning residents about a scam demanding payments for alleged missed jury duty.
According to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department, scammers are using phone calls, text messages, and emails to pressure people into paying money for supposed missed jury duty or outstanding warrants. Authorities say the tactic has recently been reported in nearby Marion County and could soon spread into Shelby County.
Officials emphasized that legitimate law enforcement agencies will never request payments over the phone or through digital payment platforms.
The scam typically involves someone pretending to be a deputy or court official. The caller claims the victim missed jury duty or has a warrant and must immediately pay a fine to avoid arrest. Victims are often instructed to send money using services such as Zelle, CashApp, Venmo, gift cards, Bitcoin, or other third-party payment methods, the sheriff’s office said.
According to Sheriff Chris Holder, residents should treat any demand for payment through these methods as suspicious and hang up immediately.
Authorities also warned residents never to share banking information, credit card numbers, or other financial details with anyone claiming to be law enforcement over the phone.
The sheriff’s department encouraged residents to report suspicious calls to local law enforcement and to warn friends or family members who may be vulnerable to scams.
More information about similar scams and how to report them is available through the Federal Trade Commission at:
https://consumer.ftc.gov/…/what-do-if-you-were-scammed
The warning may be particularly relevant for students and young workers who frequently receive jury summons notices and may be targeted by scam callers.
Officials say awareness is the best defense against these schemes.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input.
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