NEW SCAM ALERT

🚨SCAM ALERT: MISSED JURY DUTY 

The Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a jury duty scam targeting people by phone.

Scammers are calling and claiming you have missed jury duty and now owe a fine. They may threaten you with arrest or other legal consequences if you do not pay immediately.

In a recent version of this scam, the caller directs victims to Walgreens and sends them a QR code to have the cashier scan so they can pay the supposed fine.

HERE’S HOW THEY STEAL YOUR MONEY:

That QR code is NOT a legitimate payment for a court fine. It can actually be a screenshot of the scammer’s personal account reload page, such as a prepaid debit card, digital wallet, or cryptocurrency account.

When the cashier scans the code and you hand over the cash, your money is deposited directly into the criminal’s account. Once it is transferred, recovering the money can be extremely difficult or impossible.

DO NOT PAY.
DO NOT SCAN THE QR CODE.

DO NOT GIVE CASH OR FINANCIAL INFORMATION TO THE CALLER.

Most importantly, law enforcement will never call you and direct you to a store to purchase a debit card, reload a financial account, or use a QR code to pay a fine.

If you receive a call claiming you missed jury duty, hang up and independently contact the appropriate court using a verified phone number. Do not use a number provided by the caller.

Scammers rely on fear and urgency to keep you from thinking things through. Take a moment, verify the information, and don’t let a threatening phone call cost you your hard-earned money.

If someone calls demanding immediate payment for missed jury duty, it’s a scam.