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The Dutchess County Sheriff's Office is alerting residents about a deceptive jury duty scam targeting the Hudson Valley region.
Scammers are posing as detectives from the Dutchess County Sheriff's Office, calling victims and falsely claiming they've failed to report for jury duty. The perpetrators then attempt to solicit money from victims, promising they can avoid consequences for missing the fabricated jury duty obligation.
"Legitimate law enforcement would not attempt to satisfy a warrant or make promises to avoid prosecution by soliciting money," according to the Sheriff's Office. Officials emphasize that law enforcement agencies never contact people about jury duty in this manner.
This jury duty scheme is part of a broader increase in scams targeting the area. The Sheriff's Office notes that scammers commonly use elaborate stories to extract money from victims, including claims that a relative has been hurt or jailed and needs immediate financial assistance.
To protect yourself, authorities recommend several precautions. Never send money to unknown individuals without independently verifying the situation. If you receive suspicious calls, hang up and contact the agency directly using their official phone number. For emails or texts about orders you didn't place, avoid clicking links or calling numbers provided in the message.
"It is very important to not send money to anyone that you don't know until you've confirmed the situation through an independent source and feel comfortable with it," the Sheriff's Office stated. They warn that once money is sent to scammers, it's typically very difficult or impossible to recover.
Anyone who believes they may have been targeted by this scam is encouraged to contact the Dutchess County Sheriff's Office at 845-486-3800 or through their tipline at 845-605-CLUE. Reports can also be emailed to dcsotips@gmail.com.