Sheriff Warns of Jury-Duty Scam Calls

Callers posing as Montgomery County Sheriff's Office employees are threatening arrest over missed jury duty unless victims pay immediately.

By Richthrax · Oct. 25, 2026

The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office is warning residents about a rise in scam calls tied to jury duty and court appearances, the Dayton Daily News reported Oct. 22.

The callers pretend to work for the sheriff's office and tell the person they missed jury duty or a court date, according to the newspaper. They demand that a fine be paid right away and threaten arrest if it isn't.

How the scam works

Victims are pushed to pay through PayPal, Apple Pay, money orders, bitcoin ATMs or other electronic methods, the Daily News reported.

The scammers use caller ID spoofing so the calls look like they are coming from the sheriff's office. Sometimes they use the names of real sheriff's office employees to seem legitimate, according to the report.

"These calls are designed to create fear and pressure residents into acting quickly," Sheriff Rob Streck said, according to the Daily News.

Streck said the office "will never contact you by phone to demand payment" or threaten arrest over missed jury duty or court matters, the newspaper reported.

What to do

The sheriff's office advises residents to:

• Be wary of unsolicited calls that demand immediate payment or ask for personal information.
• Check any suspicious call through official sources, not phone numbers or details the caller provides.
• Share the warning with friends, family and neighbors.

Federal courts give similar advice. The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, for example, tells people on its website, "DO NOT pay anyone over the phone regarding your missed jury service." It suggests calling the clerk of courts' office directly to check any court order a caller mentions.

Where to report

The Federal Trade Commission collects reports on government impersonation scams and other fraud at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, according to a Sept. 25 Social Security Administration post. "Your report could help stop a scammer," the post says.

In Ohio, the attorney general's office takes scam reports online through a "Report a Scam" link on its website and runs a toll-free help center at 800-282-0515, open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays.

The Daily News report did not include a phone number for reaching the sheriff's office about these calls.