Will County sheriff warns about jury duty warrant scams

The Will County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a phone call scam involving alleged outstanding warrants and missed jury duty.

The scam callers claim to be from the Sheriff’s Office and tell people there is a warrant out for their arrest because of failure to show up for jury duty.

“These scammers use several techniques, including a sense of urgency, to lure residents into believing that if they do not take care of this immediately, and pay the given amount of money, they will be arrested,” according to a news release posted by the Sheriff’s Office.

The scams also have come in the form of emails, text messages, and letters, according to the release.

“Their goal is to pressure you and frighten you to act before you have time to realize it’s a scam. Their objective is to get your personal and banking information and/or to have you send gift cards or wire transfer money,” according to the release.

Residents who receive a suspicious call, email, text, or letter, should cut off the communication immediately, by hanging up the phone, blocking the text number, not clicking on links in an email, and not replying to letters, the sheriff’s office said.

The sheriff’s office – and any other governing body – will not contact residents and ask for money and will not call if you have a warrant or subpoena. The sheriff’s office also will not ask for any personal or banking information, the sheriff’s office said.

If you are a victim of a scam, file a police report and call your banking institute to check your accounts, the sheriff’s office said. Scams may also be reported to the Federal Trade Commission at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov