Man Loses $8,000 to Harris County Jury Duty Scam

Jury Duty Scam Alert

• ⚠️ Harris County deputies are warning residents about a scam where individuals impersonate law enforcement.
• 📞 Scammers call residents claiming they missed jury duty and must pay a fine immediately to avoid arrest.

Victim's Experience

• 💰 One man, identified as James, was told he owed $8,000 for failing to appear for jury duty.
• 😨 He felt consumed by anxiety and panic, making it difficult to process the situation or recognize red flags.
• 🚗 The scammer instructed James to meet a supposed bail bondsman at a CVS parking lot to pay the cash fine.

Scam Mechanics

• 📄 The scammer provided a fake failure to appear citation with random digits to appear legitimate.
• 🤝 James was told an officer and a bail bondsman would meet him, but only the supposed bail bondsman showed up.
• 💳 A business card with a fake name associated with a real company, ASAP Bail Bonds, was given to the victim.

Official Warnings and Advice

• 🚨 The Harris County Sheriff's Office emphasizes that law enforcement will never ask for payment over the phone or via text.
• 🚫 Residents are advised to hang up immediately if they receive such calls.
• 📞 To verify legitimacy, people should directly contact the jury service center or report the scam to the sheriff's office.
• 🔒 Never give out personal or financial information over the phone.