Scammers posing as Wayne County sheriff’s deputies are calling residents and demanding payment to clear fake arrest warrants for missed jury duty.

The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office posted a public alert Oct. 26 warning that the calls are fraudulent. Plymouth and Canton residents fall within Wayne County and could be targeted. The alert says Sheriff Raphael Washington’s office does not telephone residents about missed jury service or collect payments by phone to prevent an arrest.

How the scam works

The caller says you failed to appear for jury duty, that a warrant is out for your arrest, and that you must pay a “bond” or “fine” immediately. Some callers use actual deputies’ names or provide badge numbers to appear legitimate. Caller ID may be spoofed to display a government number.

Scammers may also text official-looking documents such as a fake arrest warrant or a “confidentiality order.” The sheriff’s office identifies these texted documents as another part of the scheme.

Victims are told not to hang up, not to contact family or an attorney, and not to call the sheriff’s office. Some callers claim that visiting the office will get you arrested. Calls can stretch past 30 minutes.

The payment demand is the endgame. Targets are told to pull cash from the bank and feed it into a “secure kiosk,” which is actually a Bitcoin or cryptocurrency ATM. Others are asked for gift cards, payment apps or wire transfers.

A newer twist

The sheriff’s office said recent reports describe scammers keeping victims on the phone while directing them from a bank to a gas station or liquor store with a cryptocurrency machine. The caller may ask for your car’s odometer reading and promise to “reimburse your mileage,” or send a flyer showing a deputy beside a kiosk.

The office warns residents not to dismiss fraud alerts displayed on cryptocurrency machines, even if the caller insists the transaction is legitimate.

What to watch for

The sheriff’s office says to hang up if a caller:

  • Says you will be arrested for missing jury duty unless you pay immediately
  • Asks for payment by cryptocurrency, gift cards, prepaid cards, a payment app or wire transfer
  • Tells you to stay on the line or not to tell anyone
  • Texts you a warrant, court order or other legal document
  • Asks for your Social Security number, bank account or credit card information

How to protect yourself

End the call and independently verify any jury-service concern with the court. Look up its contact information on its official website or use your paper summons, rather than a number supplied by the caller.

Wayne County’s Third Circuit Court also warns that it will not telephone residents to demand money or threaten jail over missed jury duty.

Recovering scam payments can be difficult. The Federal Trade Commission advises contacting the company involved in the payment immediately and asking whether it can reverse the transaction or issue a refund.

If you’ve been targeted

The sheriff’s office advises residents to stop all contact with the caller, contact their bank if they sent money or shared account information, and file a report with their local police department. Preserve details for investigators, including the caller’s number and claimed identity, the payment demand and any transaction records.

For cryptocurrency payments, the FTC recommends contacting the exchange or ATM operator immediately. Gift card payments should be reported to the card issuer.

Residents can also report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.