PASCO COUNTY, Fla. – A wave of jury duty scams is targeting residents across Pasco County, and fraudsters are now cloning the Pasco Sheriff’s Office general phone line to trick people into sending cash.
According to authorities, scammers call targets from a blocked or spoofed number that mimics the real law enforcement agency. The caller then claims to be a sheriff’s office official, frequently using the names of actual agency members to sound convincing. Victims are told they missed a mandatory jury duty date and must immediately pay a steep fine to avoid arrest or legal trouble.
The fraudsters then instruct victims to send the money through digital payment platforms like PayPal, Zelle, or Bitcoin.
The Pasco Sheriff’s Office issued a statement to clarify that they do not handle jury notifications or collect fines related to court attendance.
“PSO does not manage jury duty notifications, and we stress that these messages are not legitimate,” the agency said. “PSO will never contact individuals for any form of payment to resolve issues, criminal or otherwise.”
Local officials advise residents who receive these calls to hang up immediately and avoid sharing any financial info or making online transfers.
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