The King County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents that a phone call that appears to come from them warning about a warrant for jury duty or failure to pay back taxes is a scam.

The Sheriff’s Office does not solicit for funds over the phone under any circumstances.

Criminals are able to use false or “spoofed” numbers to make it appear that the call is coming from the Sheriff’s Office phone number, or from the Courts.

If someone contacts you and tells you there is a warrant out for your arrest because you missed jury duty or that you owe back taxes, this is a scam; Discontinue the call immediately.

In this scam, a caller says that they are from the King County Sheriff’s Office or from the Courts of King County and that because you missed jury duty and there is a warrant for your arrest. According to police, the callers sound very professional and use high-pressure tactics in an attempt  to get the victim to pay hundreds of dollars to avoid being arrested.

If they get you to agree to pay the money, they will tell you to purchase a cash card from a well-known store. Once you purchase the card they will have you call them back with the special pin number on the back of the card. Within seconds the funds will be transferred to their account.

They will then tell you to go down to the King County Courthouse, sign up for jury duty and that King County will reimburse you with a cashier’s check for the amount you paid them.

Again, this is a scam.

The King County Sheriff’s Office or the Courts will never call you for money on a warrant or tell you in advance they are coming to arrest you.

If you are a victim of this scam you may file a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission at http://www.fcc.gov/complaints.

If you received a false call and actually sent/confirmed funds and wish to file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission you can do so at http://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/Information#crnt&panel1-1

For more information on the topic visit http://www.uscourts.gov/FederalCourts/JuryService/JurorScams.aspx.