The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office is issuing an urgent public service announcement regarding a jury duty scam that has seen a significant uptick in frequency and severity this morning.

Director of Community Services and Criminal Investigation at the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, Gary Howard, reported that the scam is “going strong,” with six or seven calls already received just today from residents claiming to have been contacted by someone impersonating him (Gary Howard) and Sgt. Dustin Jackson. These fraudulent calls falsely claim there is a warrant or issue related to missed jury duty or civil matters, often pressuring victims for payment or personal information.

This aligns with an ongoing and recurring jury duty/warrant phone scam targeting the community, where scammers:

• – Pose as sheriff’s office personnel (previously using names like Sgt. Zach Ellis or others, and spoofing official numbers).
• – Claim victims have missed jury duty, face misdemeanor/felony charges, arrest warrants, or fines (e.g., thousands of dollars).
• – Demand immediate payment via gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, prepaid cards, or similar untraceable methods.

The Sheriff’s Office emphasizes that they never:

• – Call to demand payments for warrants, missed court dates, fines, jury duty issues, or fees.
• – Request payment over the phone or via gift cards, wire transfers, etc.
• – Threaten immediate arrest without proper process.

A prior press release warned of similar impersonation tactics (e.g., fake “Sgt. Zach Ellis” from the Civil Warrant Division), advising people to hang up immediately, share no information, and verify any suspicious contact directly with the office.

This scam has been on the rise periodically, with renewed intensity noted in recent months and now spiking sharply today. Residents are urged to stay vigilant, hang up on suspicious calls, and report them to the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office for verification.

If you receive such a call, do not engage—contact the Sheriff’s Office directly through official channels to confirm legitimacy. This scam exploits fear of legal consequences to defraud people, and the current high volume of reports highlights its increased severity and activity right now.