GRAYSON COUNTY, Ky. — The Grayson County Sheriff's Office is alerting the public of a recent scam involving fraudulent calls in relation to jury duty.
Police said they were contacted by someone who received a phone call saying they had missed a federal court subpoena or failed to report for jury duty and that a warrant was issued for their arrest. This person was actually chosen for jury duty a few days prior, but thought it had been canceled.
According to a post on Facebook, the scammer said he was "Deputy Clark with the Sheriff’s Office” and needed the victim to complete some paperwork. She ended up leaving work and was not seen or heard from for a couple of hours before authorities were notified.
Officers said the victim's friends and coworkers contacted "Deputy Clark" from a number that was left on her desk. They were told that the victim was with the scammer in his car and they were "filling out paperwork concerning the missed federal court date."
When they asked to speak to the victim and started asking more questions, the scammer hung up on them.
Police said they "immediately" started tracking the victim's phone at the same time as her family members, via Life360, and it showed that she was headed to a grocery store in Elizabethtown. Officers were then dispatched there.
The department said a trooper spotter the victim's vehicle in the parking lot and went inside the store where she had already sent the scammer some money. However, he stopped her before she sent the entire requested amount.
"We later learned that our citizen NEVER had in person contact with the scammer. All of the contact was done verbally over the phone. We also learned that she was instructed to NOT use her phone, accept calls, make calls or that she would be arrested because her phone was being tracked," police said. "This was a unique situation as this is the first time to my knowledge that the scammer said he was with the victim. That sent up alarm flags with her friends and even law enforcement because she was NOT answering her phone. However, she was NEVER with him."
Officers said the caller ID on the scammer's phone showed up as the Grayson County Detention Center. However, that is what's called spoofing. That's when someone makes a phone call and manipulates the caller ID to be whatever they want it to.
There was a second attempt made by the same person on Thursday targeting another person at another location using the same scenario. However, officers said it was unsuccessful.
"I would like to reiterate that no law enforcement agency will ever threaten you with arrest for not showing up for court or missing a court date and then ask you to go get money to pay the fine, unless it is in an open courtroom, and you are speaking face-to-face to the judge," police said. "We will never ask you to send money over the phone to satisfy any court judgment, or ask you to go somewhere to pay in Bitcoin, or any other money app.
Authorities urged that if you are ever unsure about anyone that calls you, regarding sending money over the internet or any other way, call and speak directly to the sheriff or other law enforcement personnel.
"These scammers can be very convincing," police said. "Be vigilant Grayson County! Your personal and financial well-being depends on it!!!"
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