Pasco County residents are being targeted in a phone scam where fraudsters are impersonating law enforcement officers. The scammers are demanding immediate payment for missed jury duty through digital apps like PayPal, Zelle, and Bitcoin.
Scam Details
According to the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, the scammers are calling victims and pretending to be official law enforcement personnel, sometimes even using the names of actual sheriff’s office employees. The callers tell the victims that they missed a scheduled jury duty date and must immediately pay a financial penalty to avoid arrest or legal trouble.
The Pasco Sheriff’s Office clarified that it does not manage or distribute jury duty notifications. Officials emphasized that any phone calls demanding money to resolve legal issues are completely fraudulent and unauthorized.
Residents who receive these calls are advised not to provide any personal information or financial details, and to hang up immediately.
Original reporting: Tampa Free Press — read the source article.
