Scammers are working the phones in Pasco County, posing as deputies and court officials and trying to bully residents into paying bogus fines for supposedly skipping jury duty. Targets are told they are on the verge of being arrested unless they pay up fast, and officials are now stressing that real court or sheriff's office staff will not demand instant payments over the phone.
What Pasco Sheriff's Office Says
In a warning shared on Pasco Sheriff's Office social media, deputies said callers may hide or spoof their numbers and even drop the names of real PSO staff to sound convincing. According to the post, victims are being instructed to pay through PayPal, bitcoin, Zelle, Cash App, gift cards or other peer-to-peer methods. The sheriff's office stressed that "PSO will never solicit people for monetary transactions including bitcoin, peer-to-peer payments, gift cards, Zelle, Cash App and Venmo."
How The Con Works
The scam typically starts with a caller ID that looks like it belongs to a local government office. Once someone picks up, the scammer uses fear and urgency to push for quick payments that are hard to trace. The Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller notes that official jury summonses are sent by mail, not by surprise phone calls, and that the clerk's office will not call to demand money. Any phone call asking for payment over missed jury duty should be treated as a likely fraud attempt.
If You Get The Call
If a caller claims you missed jury service and threatens you with arrest, hang up. Do not share personal details or banking information. Instead, note the phone number if possible, confirm your jury status directly with the clerk's office, and report the call to local law enforcement. Federal officials also advise using the Federal Trade Commission reporting portal and alerting the FBI when appropriate. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida has specifically urged victims to use the FTC portal and to contact federal investigators as needed.
Wider Context
This is not just a Pasco problem. Similar jury-duty cons have been popping up around Florida and across the country, prompting a steady stream of fraud alerts from clerks and court offices. The Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers and multiple county clerks say scammers have also used spoofed websites and payment demands to squeeze money from worried residents. Their advice is simple: double check anything that claims to be official by contacting your local clerk's office directly before sending a dime.
Legal Note
Pretending to be law enforcement or court staff in order to solicit payments is a crime, and investigators want to hear from anyone who has been targeted. If you believe you were scammed, file a complaint at reportfraud.ftc.gov and contact your local FBI field office or sheriff’s office so an investigation can get started.
