Davidson County, NC – Residents are being warned to stay alert after scammers began calling people and falsely claiming they missed jury duty and must immediately pay fines to avoid arrest.
According to the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office, the calls involve individuals posing as law enforcement officials and telling residents they failed to appear for jury duty. Victims are then instructed to send money right away, often through Apple Pay, Bitcoin, or other digital payment methods.
Authorities emphasized that these calls are not legitimate. The sheriff’s office says it will never demand payment over the phone or request fines through digital wallets, gift cards, or cryptocurrency.
“These scammers rely on fear and urgency,” the sheriff’s office stated in a public alert. “If you receive a call demanding immediate payment for jury duty, hang up.”
Officials say legitimate jury notices are always sent by mail, and any failure to appear is handled through formal court procedures — not surprise phone calls. Law enforcement will also never threaten arrest over the phone for unpaid jury fines.
Residents who receive these calls are urged not to send money, not to share personal information, and to report the incident to local authorities. Those who believe they may have been targeted can also contact their local court clerk to verify jury duty status.
The sheriff’s office encourages residents, especially seniors, to warn friends and family about the scam, as similar jury duty fraud attempts have been reported across North Carolina and nationwide.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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