HUNTINGTON WOODS, Mich. – A woman in Huntington Woods lost $18,000 due to a jury duty phone scam.
According to the authorities, people in Oakland County have been receiving fraudulent phone calls that threatened people with arrest when they supposedly did not show up for jury service.
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The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office said a woman was scammed out of $18,000 when someone posing as law enforcement told her there was a federal arrest warrant issued for her. She reportedly was kept on the phone for more than five hours as she went to multiple banks to obtain money. Authorities said she was told that she could not tell anyone about the call due to a gag order and that if she went to the Oakland County government offices, she would be arrested.
Legitimate law enforcement and court officials will never demand immediate payment to avoid arrest or solicit personal information -- such as social security numbers or banking details -- over the phone. In federal and state courts, delinquent jurors are contacted through mail rather than phone calls.
“We continue to get reports of residents being hit with these phony phone calls,” said Sheriff Michael Bouchard. ”The Sheriff’s Office will never demand immediate payment over the phone. Ever. Just hang up.”
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has released several warnings and tips about similar phone scams that can be read here. More information on avoiding and reporting scams can be found on the Federal Trade Commission website.
Consumer complaints can be filed online on the Attorney General’s website.