SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY— The sheriff’s office is warning the public about a scam being perpetrated in Sullivan County. Victims have received phone calls from unknown persons pretending to be affiliated with the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office. The victims are told that they have failed to appear for jury duty and that a warrant has been issued for their arrest. The victim is told they can avoid arrest by paying a fine. The fraudster instructs the victim to pay the fine via Western Union, MoneyGram or a prepaid debit card such as a GreenDot money card. 

“The sheriff’s office does not pick citizens up on warrants for not attending jury duty,” said Sheriff Mike Schiff. “And we certainly do not collect fines over the phone,” he said. The sheriff said that this latest swindle is a variation of the “IRS scam.” In the IRS scam, the victim is told there is an outstanding warrant and they can avoid arrest by paying a fine over the phone.

An investigation by the sheriff’s office over the past several days indicates that the calls are being generated by an artificial intelligence program and are originating from an overseas location. “They even manipulate the caller ID to display the sheriff’s office main phone number,” said Schiff. “If you get one of these calls, hang up immediately and don’t send them any money.”