The Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a phone scam in which callers falsely claim to be deputies and demand payment related to jury duty.
According to a recent Facebook post from the sheriff’s office, multiple people have reported receiving calls from someone identifying themselves as a deputy. The caller tells victims they are the subject of an arrest warrant for failure to report for jury duty and must pay a fee to resolve the matter.
The sheriff’s office stated that it does not call individuals to demand payment of fees. Officials also noted that some reports indicate the scam calls may display what appears to be a deputy’s name on caller ID, while others may come from different phone numbers.
Local law enforcement officials said similar scams have been reported in the past involving both the Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Minden Police Department. In some cases, scammers use technology to manipulate caller ID information to make calls appear as though they are coming from legitimate local agencies.
Sheriff Jason Parker and Minden Police Chief Jared McIver have previously advised the public that their agencies do not require payments to be made over the phone for warrants, jury duty issues or other law enforcement matters.
Residents who are unsure about a call or believe they may have been contacted by a scammer are encouraged to hang up and contact their local law enforcement agency directly to report the incident.