The DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a DeSoto County phone scam in which callers pretend to be law enforcement officers and pressure people to pay for a missed jury duty date, an outstanding warrant, or unpaid fines. The sheriff’s office says the calls are fake and that deputies will never demand payment over the phone.
The warning came in a “Scam Alert” the department shared this week on its official Facebook page, saying scammers “are at it again.” Action News 5 also reported on the alert Thursday.
How the DeSoto County Phone Scam Works
The sheriff’s office says the caller claims to be with law enforcement and tells the person on the line that they are in trouble. Common claims include:
- You missed jury duty and now owe a fine
- There is a warrant out for your arrest
- You owe court fees or other fines that must be paid right away
The caller then pushes the victim to pay quickly, often with a payment method that is hard to trace or reverse. The sheriff’s office listed Bitcoin kiosks, Cash App, Apple Pay, Venmo, PayPal, Zelle, credit cards, and gift cards as methods scammers have demanded.
Scams like this work by creating fear and urgency. A caller may use an official-sounding title, mention a real court or agency, or even spoof the caller ID so the call appears to come from a local number.
Sheriff’s Office: Hang Up and Verify
The department was direct in its message: “This is a scam.” It said the DCSO will never call to demand payment and will never require payment through cryptocurrency or payment apps…