(WWJ) - The Oakland County Sheriff is warning residents to be aware of a scam claiming to be with the department.
Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said phone calls are being made telling people they could be arrested for not showing up for jury duty.
Multiple Rochester Hills residents reported calls claiming to be from the Sheriff’s Office on Feb. 28. All of the calls were made by scammers, according to the Sheriff’s Office. None of the people that were contacted fell for the scam.
One of the people who was called reached out to the Sheriff’s Office to “complain of an overly aggressive caller who claimed to be a deputy and furnished a badge number,” according to a press release from the Sheriff’s Office. “No one with the name and badge number the scammer furnished is employed in the Sheriff’s Office.”
The scammers claim that there is a warrant out for the arrest of the person being contacted for failure to appear for jury duty. To get rid of the warrant, the person needs to pay a cash bond in either bitcoin or gift cards.
A fake badge number and name are also being given to back up the claim the person calling is a deputy.
“Just hang up,” Bouchard said. “Again, we’re getting reports of residents being hit with these phony phone calls. The Sheriff’s Office will never demand immediate payment over the phone. Ever. Just hang up.”
Delinquent jurors are contacted by mail and not by phone. Neither the Sheriff’s Office or the courts accept payment of cash bonds in bitcoin or gift cards.