JURY DUTY SCAM TARGETING VAN BUREN COUNTY RESIDENTS

JURY DUTY SCAM TARGETING VAN BUREN COUNTY RESIDENTS

The Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a jury-duty scam that is currently targeting members of the community. The Sheriff’s Office has received more than 10 reports this week from residents who received suspicious phone calls involving alleged missed jury duty.

In the reported scam, callers falsely claim to be contacting the resident on behalf of the Sheriff’s Office or court system and say the person failed to appear for jury duty. The caller then pressures the resident to go to Paw Paw immediately and remain on the phone while traveling. In some cases, the caller claims that if the person cannot come to Paw Paw, they can send money through Venmo or another payment application for a “bond,” fines, or other fees.

These calls are fraudulent. The Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office will not demand payment through Venmo, Zelle, or other peer-to-peer payment applications to resolve a missed jury-duty appearance.

Residents who receive a call like this should not send money, provide personal or financial information, or remain on the phone with the caller. Hang up and independently contact the appropriate court or law-enforcement agency using an official phone number to verify any legitimate jury-duty information.

The Sheriff’s Office encourages residents to share this warning with family members, friends, and others who may be targeted by these scams. Anyone who believes they have been the victim of this scam should report it to their local law-enforcement agency or the Sheriff’s Office.