Phone scams continue to plague our area, officials say

CHATHAM, BRYAN, LIBERTY COUNTIES, Ga. (WTOC) - Jury duty and warrant scams are spreading across our area, according to multiple city officials.

In a social media post on October 27, 2025, the Bryan County Clerk of Courts said that this new jury duty scam is spreading across social media and through phone calls or text messages.

Officials say these scammers pretend to be court officials, sheriffs, or jury coordinators.

The scammers claim you have “missed jury duty and now owe a fine or could be arrested unless you pay immediately or provide personal information.”

On October 31, 2025, the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office posted a similar message, saying “We’ve had several people in our county become victims, losing their hard-earned money to these low-life criminals.”

These scammers are targeting members of our community and are using the names of Liberty County Sheriff’s Office deputies to make their calls sound legitimate.

They are calling residents and demanding payment over the phone, often instructing victims to go to specific stores and send money electronically.

Remember: The Liberty County Sheriff’s Office will NEVER call and demand any type of payment or threaten arrest if you don’t send money.

Liberty County Sheriff's Office

On the official website for the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, there exists an entire page dedicated to phone scams.

The CCSO says “It is important that Chatham County residents should be aware of ongoing phone scams involving individuals posing as law enforcement officers in order to coerce victims into transferring money.”

According to the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, these scams have been reported not just in our area, but also across the region and the country.

On November 19, 2025, the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office made a social media post which said “Scammers are posing as deputies and attempting to intimidate people into paying for fake warrants, missed jury duty, or ankle monitor fees. Please remember: No deputy from the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office will EVER call demanding money or payment of any kind.”

Here’s how the Bryan County Clerk of Courts says the scam works, and what to do if you are contacted:

How Jury Duty, Warrent Scams work

• You might get a DM, phone call, or text saying you failed to report for jury duty.
• The scammer may use real names of judges or law enforcement to sound convincing.
• They’ll demand you pay a “fine” via gift card, Venmo, Cash App, Zelle, or wire transfer.
• Sometimes, they ask for Social Security numbers or bank info to “verify your identity.”

What’s important to know about Jury Duty and Warrant Scams

• Courts will NEVER contact you by social media, text, or phone to demand payment.
• No one can be arrested for missing jury duty without official written notice.
• Payments are never collected over the phone or through apps.

What you should do if someone tries the Jury Duty or Warrant Scam on you

• Hang up or ignore the message — don’t click any links or send money.
• Report the scam to your local courthouse or sheriff’s department.
• Tell friends and family, especially older relatives, who may be more vulnerable.
• Check official jury duty status by visiting your county or state court’s verified website.