Rankin County Sheriff’s Department officials warned residents Monday about a jury duty scam circulating in the county that uses callers and apparently official documents to try to extract money from victims.
The department said scammers have telephoned people claiming to be law enforcement — including police officers, deputies or U.S. marshals — and have used documents created with artificial intelligence to appear legitimate. The callers then demand payment, often by asking targets to buy gift cards at stores or to pay with cryptocurrency.
The sheriff’s department said no employee will ever ask a person to procure gift cards to pay fines or request payment in cryptocurrency. Residents who are told they have an active warrant should hang up immediately and contact the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department at 601-825-1480 or the Rankin County Justice Court at 601-824-2665.
Jury duty and warrant scams that demand payment by gift card or digital currency are a common tactic used by fraudsters nationwide. The department encouraged vigilance and said it will provide more information as it becomes available.
