TOPEKA (KSNT) – A local district court is warning people to avoid being deceived by a phone scam circulating in the area.
The Shawnee County District Court issued a press release on Oct. 29 urging locals to be on alert for a common jury duty scam active in the community. People may receive a phone call from an individual pretending to be with the sheriff’s department claiming that a warrant is pending for their arrest due to missing jury duty.
Victims have reportedly been told by the scammers that if they hang up, this will also result in their arrest. The scammer then instructs the victim to meet at a specified address.
“Calls reported to us came from a local phone number and the caller used my name as the judge who signed the warrant,” said Steve Ebberts, chief judge of the 3rd Judicial District. “Scammers make these calls look and sound legitimate, but the court does not initiate phone contact.”
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The Shawnee County District Court said it will not call people to announce a warrant or ask for payments. People who receive a scam phone call are asked to remember the following:
- Don’t give the scammer any personal details or send them any money.
- Hang up and call the Shawnee County District Court at 785-251-6700 to ask if the court made the call.
- Report the scam to the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office, Topeka Police Department, the Kansas Attorney General’s Office and/or the Federal Trade Commission.
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