Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is alerting the public to phone scams where scammers pose as police enforcement and demand money

Jefferson County, Arkansas – Jefferson County authorities are alerting the public to a recent phone scam in which the caller poses as a law enforcement officer and demands money.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office issued a warning in a release on Thursday, stating that they had gotten numerous reports of con artists calling people they had called, pretending to be from the JCSO, and claiming to have arrest warrants for them because they had missed jury duty.

“Please be mindful that these phone calls are fraudulent, and any requests for money or personal information under such circumstances should be treated with extreme caution,” officials said. “They will look official, and the person will sound professional, but they are not representatives of the JCSO or the courts.”
According to JCSO officials, authorities will never request money over the phone or personal data that might be exploited fraudulently.

Law enforcement and government entities, according to authorities, will never request payment using strange means like gift cards, wire transfers, PayPal, Apple Pay, or cryptocurrency.

The JCSO outlined safety measures to follow if you receive a phone call that seems to be from a scammer.

• Do not send money or personal information: Legitimate law enforcement agencies will not demand immediate payment over the phone.
• Verify the caller’s identity: If you receive a suspicious call, contact your local law enforcement agency to verify the caller’s identity and the existence of any warrants.
• Be cautious of high-pressure tactics: Scammers often use threats and urgency to force individuals into making hasty decisions. Take your time to verify any claims.
• Report any suspicious calls: If you receive a suspicious call, please report it to your local law enforcement agency.

According to JCSO officials, if you receive a call purporting to be from the Prosecutor’s Office or Jefferson County authorities, you can verify the caller’s identification by contacting the JCSO at 870-541-5351, which is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and asking to speak with Major John Bean. You can contact 870-541-5387 at the same time if the call confirmation is for the prosecutor’s office.

Anybody who could have been the victim of this fraud is asked to call the JCSO at 870-541-5496, according to the sheriff’s office.