Bexar County residents have been put on high alert as authorities report a potent new scam exploiting the civic duty of jury service. The Bexar County Jury Services, in a recently issued statement, has informed the public of a harrowing phone scam wherein callers employ intimidation to try to fraudulently extract fines ranging from $2,000 to $4,000 from victims under the guise of missed jury duty—threats that have ensnared both those summoned and not summoned for jury service.

Residents are finding themselves on the receiving end of alarming calls, with scammers falsely claiming that failure to pay these fines will result in arrest warrants and immediate detainment by law enforcement. "The office emphasized that they do not solicit money, and they do not contact residents by phone if they’ve missed jury duty," as reported by FOX San Antonio.

In the wake of these incidences, the Bexar County Public Information Office has responded decisively, reiterating that the county's Central Jury Services Department operates with greater transparency and would never place such calls. These scammers are threatening unsuspecting citizens with a phony arrest warrant for failing to appear for jury duty, as detailed by KENS 5. The county has clarified that official communications regarding missed jury service are conducted solely through mailed letters.

In combating this scam, Bexar County officials firmly assert, "This office does not solicit money," and they urge anyone who has been contacted by these scammers to reach out to the Central Jury Department directly. Concerned residents or scam targets are encouraged to call (210) 864-6677 to verify the legitimacy of any claims related to jury duty. This proactive stance aims to safeguard citizens from being deceived by such fraudulent schemes and to prevent the erosion of trust in the processes that undergird the judicial system.