Nassau County, Florida — Local authorities are issuing an urgent alert about a phone scam in which individuals, impersonating court officials, are threatening residents with arrest unless they pay for supposed missed jury duties. The Nassau County Clerk of Court’s Office has highlighted an alarming rise in these fraudulent activities over the past week.
Mitch Keiter, Chief of Staff and Operations at the Clerk’s Office, stated that the callers cunningly use the names of actual court staff to enhance the credibility of their demands, thereby deceiving the recipients into believing the call is legitimate. These callers insist on immediate payment to avoid legal repercussions, a tactic that has already proven costly to some residents.
In one distressing incident, a couple was defrauded out of $7,500 — money they had been saving to purchase a new home. Keiter explained that the victims were manipulated to stay on the line and coerced into believing that hanging up would lead to their immediate arrest. This fear tactic ensured that the victims felt too intimidated to terminate the fraudulent call, ultimately leading to their financial loss.
The prevalence of this scam has escalated, with at least 15 similar cases reported just this week. The swindlers’ approach typically involves creating a high-pressure situation, aiming to prevent victims from verifying the claims with appropriate legal or law enforcement authorities.
Authorities are emphasizing that the Clerk’s Office does not make phone calls related to penalties for jury duty absences, nor does it request immediate payments over the phone under threat of arrest. They are urging residents to recognize this scheme and respond by hanging up and reporting the incident to local law enforcement, specifically by dialing 911.
Law enforcement officials are also offering guidance on how residents can protect themselves from such scams. They advise skepticism of any call that demands money or sensitive personal information over the phone. Checking the identity of the caller by contacting the purported agency directly through official channels can also help verify the legitimacy of such claims.
Strategies to combat these scams also include educating the public through community outreach programs about the tactics used by fraudsters and the steps to take if one suspects being targeted by such a scam. Local authorities are committed to tracking down those responsible for these deceptive and damaging acts.
Community leaders and law enforcement are calling for heightened awareness and vigilance from the public to prevent further losses. They hope that with increased public knowledge about these scams, the community will be better equipped to protect themselves and assist in bringing the perpetrators to justice.