Lee County warns of jury duty scam targeting residents

Law enforcement officials are warning the public about a new scam alert involving fake jury duty calls.

Scammers are calling individuals, pretending to be from law enforcement agencies, and claiming that the person missed jury duty and could be arrested. They then ask for payment to resolve the issue.

"Scammers are always creative and always evolving," said Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno.

Marceno emphasized that the Lee County Sheriff's Office would never ask individuals to pay or provide personal information over the phone regarding jury duty.

"Lee County Sheriff's Office is never going to ask you to show up at jury duty or for your personal information or for some type of payment," said Marceno. "So immediately know this is a scam, and never give your personal information out."

Marceno's warning extends to other law enforcement agencies as well. They will not call like a debt collector, threaten arrest over the phone, or demand payment via third-party apps.

If you receive such a call, text, or email, it is crucial to protect your personal information. Do not click on any links or pay any money. Instead, report the incident to law enforcement.

Florida ranked third in scams reported and losses in 2024. The numbers for 2025 are expected to be worse. Sheriff Marceno advised that if you receive a suspicious call, text, or email, slow down before acting and delete it if necessary. If someone asks you to send a gift card, it is a scam.