CLEARWATER, Fla. — Detectives with the Clearwater Police Department are alerting the public to an increase in phone scams involving bogus missed jury duty claims.
According to department investigators, scammers are contacting local residents and posing as law enforcement officers. The callers tell victims they face immediate arrest unless they pay a fine for failing to report for jury service.
To collect money, the callers instruct individuals to send funds through wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency kiosks. In some instances, the scammers send follow-up emails containing fabricated arrest warrants and fake court documents to make the threats appear legitimate…