The Marion County Sheriff’s Office is warning citizens of a phone scam involving scammers who are threatening to arrest individuals for missing jury duty.
According to the sheriff’s office, multiple reports have been received regarding a scammer who is calling citizens and claiming to be “Sergeant Chapman” with MCSO. This fake “sergeant” then tells the citizens that they missed jury duty, and a warrant will be issued for their arrest if they fail to pay a fee to rectify the situation.
“This is a scam! Just hang up,” MCSO stated on its Facebook page. “If you call the number back, it may seem like a legitimate call. However, MCSO will never accept payment over the phone for any reason!”
To verify if you actually missed jury duty, contact the Marion County Clerk of Court.
Scammers will try to create a sense of panic and urgency to force individuals to take action, such as sending a payment. MCSO is reminding citizens to “trust their gut” because “if something seems wrong or suspicious, it probably is.”