Sheriff’s Office Warns of Phone Scam
The Will County Sheriff’s Office has been advised by residents that they have received calls claiming they missed jury duty or have a warrant out for their arrest.
These communications are fraudulent and are in no way connected to the Sheriff’s Office, nor the Will County court system.
This scam has been reported hundreds of times over the past several years. The scammers have become more and more creative by using actual names of our deputies, and at times, your caller ID will display the actual non-emergency number for the Sheriff’s Office, or actual Warrant Division number, making you believe that the call is legitimate. It is not legitimate.
Here are some things to know:
*NO POLICE OR COURTS WILL CALL YOU – Federal courts will not call or email prospective jurors to ask for money or personal information. The Sheriff’s Office will also never serve any type of an arrest warrant by phone.
*NO IMMEDIATE PAYMENT – The Sheriff’s Office, nor any government agency, will ask for immediate payment of any kind over the phone. (cash, bitcoin, gift cards, checks, etc)
*NO PERSONAL INFORMATION – Do not give out any personal information. The courts nor the Sheriff’s Office do not require anyone to provide any sensitive information if a telephone call or email.
*REAL ARREST WARRANTS – Real, valid arrest warrants are always served in person.
*LEGITIMATE JURY INFORMATION – If you are a prospective juror you will be contacted by the courts through the U.S. mail.
If you receive a call or email claiming you missed jury duty or have a warrant out for your arrest, do not provide any personal information or send money; hang up the phone. You should notify the Circuit Clerks Office or the Sheriff’s Office at 815-727-8575 to report the scam.