New Port Richey, FL – Residents in Pasco County are being warned about an active jury duty phone scam that officials say has resurfaced this week.
According to the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, scammers are calling residents and falsely claiming they missed jury duty. The caller, posing as a sheriff’s office employee or referencing a PSO member’s name, allegedly tells victims they must pay fines to avoid legal trouble. Payments are often demanded through gift cards, PayPal, or other electronic methods.
Officials noted that some scammers may even spoof the sheriff’s office phone number to make the call appear legitimate. However, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office emphasized that it does not manage jury duty notifications and will never contact individuals for payments of any kind, especially via gift cards.
“If you receive a call like this, hang up immediately,” the sheriff’s office advised. Victims are encouraged to report the incident to local law enforcement but should not provide personal or financial information.
Authorities continue to remind residents that jury duty notifications are handled through the court system, not by the sheriff’s office. Anyone with questions about jury service in Pasco County should contact the clerk of court directly.
