GADSDEN– The Etowah County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents that an Etowah County jury duty scam is circulating across the area.

The scam involves callers who falsely claim to represent law enforcement or the Circuit Clerk’s Office. According to the warning, callers tell residents they missed jury duty and face arrest unless they pay a fine immediately.

The scammers may demand payment through prepaid cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or electronic payment applications. In addition, they may spoof telephone numbers to make a call appear to come from a local government agency.

Consequently, a local-looking caller ID does not prove that a call is legitimate. The warning describes calls built around immediate payment demands and threats of arrest.

Officials said the Sheriff’s Office will never call and demand money over the telephone. Likewise, the Circuit Clerk’s Office will not request telephone payment to prevent an arrest.

Law enforcement officers also will not seek payment through gift cards, Cash App, Venmo, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers. Therefore, residents should treat any such demand as fraudulent.

How to Respond to the Etowah County Jury Duty Scam

Anyone who receives one of the calls should hang up immediately. Residents should not provide personal or financial information, and they should not send money.

Instead, the Sheriff’s Office asks residents to report the incident. Anyone uncertain about a caller’s identity should end the call and contact the agency directly.

The Sheriff’s Office’s verified non-emergency number is 256-546-2825. Residents should use that number or information published on the agency’s official website and verified social media page.

The warning also encourages people to discuss the scam before someone receives a call. Officials specifically urged residents to share the information with older family members.

Finally, the agency is asking residents to share the warning with friends and neighbors across Etowah County.