An Oakland County woman was conned out of a hefty $18,000 by slick scam artists posing as law enforcement, officials warn, issuing a stark reminder to residents: "Just hang up." The Huntington Woods victim was led on a morbid merry-go-round by these tricksters, deceived into believing she faced arrest for shirking jury duty—a claim that held her captive on the phone for over five hours; during this time she was bullied into visiting multiple banks to withdraw her hard-earned cash, as reported by ClickOnDetroit.
The crafty caller, employing a shroud of authority that could make even the savviest skeptic pause, duped the woman with bogus names and fraudulent case numbers, while conjuring the specter of a "gag order" to prevent her from seeking help, shared the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office as per the details laid out by The Oakland Press. Sheriff Mike Bouchard of Oakland County reacted to the cunning con with a public admonishment, sternly advising residents to disconnect immediately should they receive similar threatening calls, with the sheriff asserting they will never solicit immediate payment over the horn.
In what can only be described as an alarming pattern, this incident is not an isolated blip but a burgeoning scourge, prompting officials like Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel to amplify warnings and offer guidance on steering clear of such financial predation. The lawful path for addressing absentee jurors involves the postal service, not the less personal touch of a phone call, a procedure corroborated by representatives from the U.S. District Court – Eastern Michigan District in Detroit and Oakland County Circuit Court, as noted by WWJ Newsradio.
Residents who encounter these scams are encouraged to reach out to the Federal Trade Commission for support in the aftermath of such deceptive encounters—in such times, solidarity and the shared wisdom of legitimate channels are our shields. Sheriff Bouchard’s mantra, echoing through the community, aims to arm us against the unseen enemy: "The Sheriff's Office will never demand immediate payment over the phone. Ever. Just hang up."
