Phone scammer posing as Fayette County Sheriff’s deputy
No, there isn’t a warrant out for your arrest for failing to appear for jury duty, Fayette County Sheriff James Custer said Tuesday.
Custer posted a public service announcement on the department’s Facebook page alerting residents that someone identifying himself as “Deputy Lewis” has made such a call to at least two people.
As it turns out, they happened to be two people that Custer and his wife know personally, so he was able to put out an alert quickly.
He said the number displayed from the caller was 1-878-309-0789, and called it back.
Custer said “Deputy Lewis” hung up when he started questioning him, so it’s unclear what the caller was seeking. The two others who received the call did the same thing.
Unfortunately, said Custer, scams related to jury duty aren’t new. He said the scammer typically asks the person to make some sort of a payment to have the alleged warrant lifted.
Should someone actually be in hot water for skipping out on court service, Custer said a uniformed deputy would come to the person’s home. And, he said, no member of the sheriff’s department would ask for money to void a warrant issued for missing jury duty.
He added that his department is working to try and get a location from the phone number.
In the meantime, he said, anyone who receives such a call can contact his office at 724-430-1295, and anyone who heard the scammer’s complete message on how to deliver the money is also encouraged to call the sheriff’s department with that information.
Custer said the scam is a good reminder to everyone to safeguard their personal information if they question whether any call is a hoax.
“We always encourage people to not give out any of their information over the phone,” Custer said.