Deschutes County Sheriff’s office warns of jury duty scam targeting Central Oregon residents

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office is investigating reports of a telephone scam targeting Central Oregon residents. Scammers are claiming to be deputies and threatening victims with arrest for allegedly missing jury duty.

According to a local viewer that KTVZ spoke to today, an unknown caller claimed a payment of up to $4,000 was required to settle the matter. The viewer added, the caller was very persistent and would not stop contacting her.

KTVZ News reached out to the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office for a statement.

"We're aware of a scam where someone claims to be a deputy and tells residents they've missed jury duty, owe a fine, or will be arrested if they don't pay immediately," Interim Sheriff Ty Rupert said. "I want to be very clear: this is a scam."

The interim sheriff emphasized that deputies do not use telephone calls or text messages to handle legal notifications or collect money from the public.

"Our deputies will never call or text you to demand money, threaten arrest, or ask for payment," Rupert said. "That's not how jury service notifications are handled."

Rupert advised residents to remain cautious of any unsolicited requests for money or sensitive data. He noted that official department policy forbids soliciting payments over the phone and encouraged the community to look out for one another to prevent further harm.

Rupert urged anyone who receives a suspicious call to hang up immediately, without sharing personal information or sending money. You should also refrain from clicking any links the scammer sends. Rupert added, these incidents should be reported to the non-emergency dispatch line at (541) 693-6911.

This scam is not new. KTVZ has reported on similar schemes targeting Crook, Jefferson, and more counties for years, at least as far back as 2014. If you believe you're a victim of one of these scams, contact law enforcement, and feel free to reach out to news@ktvz.com to share your story and raise awareness.