D.A. warns residents about jury duty scam

READING >> The Berks County District Attorney’s Office has received several complaints of what is being identified as a “jury duty scam.”

According to the District Attorney’s Office, victims will receive a call from unknown person/s claiming to be with the Sheriff’s Office. Victims are being told they failed to appear for jury duty and must now report to the courthouse.

The Berks County District Attorney’s Office would like Berks County citizens to know the following:

• The Berks County Sheriff’s Office does not contact jurors who failed to appear for jury duty.

• The Berks County Sheriff’s Office does not solicit money for failing to appear for jury duty.

• Fines and other official papers are usually sent by certified mail.

• Most of the time a person knows if they are involved in

the civil or the criminal court system.

• Generally, when law enforcement sets up an appointment with a citizen, it is at on an agreed upon date//time and at an agreed upon location. Meetings are not made by demanding the citizen to immediately respond to a police station or courthouse.

If you receive a similar call as described and are unsure if the call is real or not, call your local police department. Your local police department will be able to tell you if there is an active warrant for your arrest. Or call the Berks County Sheriff’s Office at 610-478-6240. The Berks County Sheriff’s Office can check on civil judgments and other legal paperwork to be served.

Along with contacting your local police department and or the Berks County Sheriff’s Office, you can also:

• Identify the telephone number

• Contact and file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at (202) 326-2222, https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/Information

The reported scam tactics are continually changing, but often share many of the following characteristics:

• Callers use fake names and badge numbers or may use the names of wellknown law enforcement officials.

• The tone of calls is urgent and aggressive; callers refuse to speak or leave a message with anyone other than the person for whom they are calling.

• Callers threaten arrest, prosecution, and imprisonment.

• Callers will attempt and/or demand money to resolve the issue via wire transfer or, in some cases, in the form of untraceable gift cards taken over the phone.

• Callers falsify the number on caller ID to appear as a legitimate law enforcement number.

• Callers will often ask for personal information, such as social security number or date of birth.