Jury Duty scam targeting Douglas County Residents

A person, or persons, impersonating deputies from the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, are targeting local residents in what has become a common phone scam.

The scammers call the resident and inform them that they failed to show up for jury duty, and has an active warrant. The impersonator even states dates of notices and case numbers.

The impersonator instructs the residents to wire money or to purchase a pre-paid credit card and they will call back to obtain the credit card numbers.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office does not telephone residents to advise them of warrants or subpoenas for jury duty. This is a phone scam. Impersonators are using “phone spoofing”. The impersonator’s caller ID can appear as if it from a local number or from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.

If you receive or have received similar phone calls and have not reported it, please call the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office at (775)782-5126. Information notices are being placed at retail businesses.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s wants to remind the public of these safety phone tips.

1. Never give out personal or identifying information over the phone to someone you do not know.
2. Treat credit cards like cash.
3. Scammers try to scare citizens.
4. Hang up immediately.