The King County Sheriff’s Office wants to warn residents of a scam that has been occurring in the Seattle area during the last couple of years. Someone may call and identify themselves as a King County deputy or detective and tell the resident that they failed to show up for jury duty.

Once they have the resident’s attention they will threaten them with jail unless they pay a fine immediately. Usually they will request a credit card number over the phone or even ask the resident to go to a nearby store to purchase a gift card and then tell them the card number.

Fortunately most of the citizens who have called the Sheriff’s Office checking the validity of the call have not given any money to the scammers. The KCSO urges residents who receive a call like this to hang up immediately and call the KCSO.

The Sheriff’s Office will never call about a warrant or ask a resident to pay over the phone.