Union County Sheriff Warns of Callers Posing as Officers to Demand Jury-Duty and Court Payments

The caller gives a real officer's name, says you missed jury duty or that court papers are waiting for you, and tells you to pay right now. In Union County, that call is a scam, the Union County Sheriff's Office said.

Sheriff Peter Corvelli warned residents on Friday, Nov. 13, about callers who pose as sheriff's officers and demand money over "service of process" or "missed jury duty." The office said versions of the scheme have circulated for several years.

What makes the latest round harder to spot is the names. Callers have been using the names of current and retired sheriff's officers to sound legitimate, the office said, so hearing a real name on the line proves nothing. They want payment by gift card, wire transfer or cryptocurrency, and the office said older relatives may be targeted. "These callers count on fear and urgency to get people to pay before they stop and think," Corvelli said.

The office's answer is simple: it will never call anyone to demand payment, whether for jury duty, court papers or any other reason. "No one from our office will ever call you and demand money. If you get a call like this, hang up," Corvelli said. The office advises residents not to stay on the line or argue, and not to give personal or financial information to an unsolicited caller.

Anyone unsure about a call can check with the Sheriff's Office directly at 908-527-4450 during business hours, using that number rather than one the caller provides. The office asks residents to report these calls to their local police department's non-emergency line. It has not said how many people have been targeted or whether anyone has lost money.

Source: Union County Sheriff's Office.

Photo: Tomwsulcer / Wikimedia Commons (CC0, public domain)