Jury duty scam costs Sarasota resident more than $40,000: How to protect yourself

A Sarasota County resident recently lost more than $40,000 to a jury duty scam, according to ABC7-WWSB. Sarasota County Clerk Karen Rushing has also warned residents. It happened next door, and it could happen here. The Office of Angel Colonneso, Esq., Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller for Manatee County, is sharing these warning signs to help keep residents safe.

How the scam worked
The caller posed as a sheriff’s deputy and said the resident had a warrant for missing jury duty. He offered to clear the warrant that day if she paid. When she tried to hang up, he threatened more charges and told her she was under a “gag order” and couldn’t talk to anyone. He had her deposit cash at an ATM, then kept demanding more.

Red flags

• A call about missed jury duty or a warrant. Our office sends jury summonses by U.S. mail and never calls about missed jury service.
• A demand for payment. No court, Clerk’s office or law enforcement agency will ask you to pay over the phone, whether it’s cash at an ATM, gift cards or any other method.
• Official-looking caller ID. Scammers can fake a real agency’s phone number.
• Being told to keep it secret. Real officers won’t order you not to talk to family or friends.
• Pressure to act right now.

What to do

• Hang up.
• To check on jury service, call our Jury Office at 941-749-1800, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Report scam calls to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office at 941-747-3011.
• Learn about other scams on our Scams and Fraud page.