The jury duty scam isn't new but the latest iteration being reported is a phone call from the St. Louis County Sheriffs Office. The scam is basically scaring the person on the other end of the phone into thinking they missed jury duty and there's a warrant for their arrest unless they take care of the fines immediately. The scam has gone around in the past in the form of emails or texts as well.
When I got a voicemail to call back a Sgt. Chris Thomson, I was immediately on the alert. The message dropped in and out so I wasn't sure what department he was calling from, but being the mother of a teenage boy, I immediately assumed it would be regarding him! Fortunately, I started recording the call so I could get all the details.
The man said he was with the St. Louis County Sheriffs Department and politely insisted I take down his name and badge number, then said he had court papers in my name (he had my name) from U.S. District Court regarding my failure to appear for jury duty in July.
Hear the audio and story below.
John O'Sullivan is the communications director for the 21st Judicial Circuit, St. Louis County Courts.
"You're not going to see St. Louis County Sheriffs officers driving around trying to arrest people. You're just not gonna see that," says O'Sullivan. "Don't pay anyone any money for saying you missed jury duty. It's definitely a scam. If you're getting anything from St. Louis County on jury [duty] it's coming in the mail."
When I called the St. Louis County Sheriffs Department to report the call I got, the woman who answered sounded weary. She said, yes, they've gotten so many reports of it, but there's really nothing they can do.
Two KMOXers among those getting the call
Two KMOXers among those getting the call
