Scam Alert: Callers Falsely Telling Residents They Failed to Appear for Jury Duty

Authorities today warned residents of the Temple City area that scammers have been telephoning people and falsely telling them they failed to appear for jury service and will be arrested.

The callers then tell potential victims that they can avoid arrest by paying a fine, and they ask for personal information that can be used in identity theft crimes, the sheriff's department reported.

The "missed jury service" phone scam has been around for nearly a decade, and resurfaces from time to time, the sheriff's department reported. The callers tell people they can have a "deputy" pick up the fine at their residence.

"Government agencies, including the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, will never ask you for personal information over the phone, or demand payment in cash or pre-paid gift cards," a sheriff's department statement said.

Anyone with doubts about the legitimacy of such a call should contact their local law enforcement agency.