Authorities Advise: Hang Up on Jury Duty Scam Calls

Yakima County Sheriff's officials are alerting residents about a pervasive scam targeting local residents. Scammers are making calls or leaving messages claiming individuals have missed jury duty and will be arrested unless they pay a fine.

IT'S A SCAM THAT COMES BACK EVERY YEAR

This fraudulent scheme, which has deceived many in the past, continues to thrive in Yakima. Authorities report that scammers often utilize "spoofing" technology to manipulate caller ID, making it appear as though the call is coming from the Yakima County Sheriff's Office.

IT JUST DOESN'T WORK LIKE THAT

Sheriff's deputies stress that legitimate officials would never threaten arrest or impose fines for missed jury duty. They advise anyone receiving such a call to refrain from providing any financial information. Instead, hang up immediately. If the scam appears in an email, delete it and avoid clicking any attachments.

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IT'S NOT THE ONLY SCAM LOOKING TO FOOL YOU

In a related scam, individuals have also reported receiving calls from scammers impersonating Deputies Jake Church and Max James, who claim the recipient has a felony warrant that can be resolved by paying a fee. The scammers instruct victims to purchase a money order at Safeway, but no details on how to send money are ever provided.

IF YOU GET A CALL OR AN EMAIL REPORT IT TO AUTHORITIES

Sheriff's officials reaffirm that they will never request payments for legal fees via money orders from grocery stores, nor will they contact individuals regarding warrants or legal matters by phone. Residents are urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious communications to the authorities.

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