County officials warned today that a sophisticated phone scam is sweeping through Lancaster County, with fraudsters claiming residents skipped jury duty and that a warrant has been issued for their arrest. The sheriff’s office posted a short video warning today, showing examples of the calls and urging residents to slow down, stay calm and refuse to give up cash or personal details on the spot.
In the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office video posted March 24, officials say callers often pose as deputies or court staff, use fake officer names and badge numbers, and sometimes claim the call is being recorded or that a Zoom court appearance has been scheduled, all tactics meant to create panic and force payment, according to the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office.
How the con plays out
Local reporting shows several recurring elements: scammers “spoof” local phone numbers so calls look like they come from a legitimate office and sometimes recite personal details to sound authentic, then demand money via gift cards, cryptocurrency or untraceable kiosks. WSOC-TV documented callers using real-looking details and even public booking photos to bolster the ruse, while other outlets have reported scammers are now using AI-generated voices to mimic sheriffs and deputies. The playbook is simple: scare the target quickly, then push for an immediate, hard-to-trace payment.
What to do if you get the call
Hang up immediately and do not send money or give account, Social Security or other personal details to anyone on the line. The Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office lists its non-emergency number as 803-283-3388 on the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office website and reminds residents it will never call to demand payment over the phone. For federal reporting and recovery help, file a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3 or report the incident to the Federal Trade Commission.
If you or a family member has already sent money, contact your bank or payment provider right away and preserve any voicemails, call logs or emails tied to the scam. A number of federal and court offices have issued notices about this nationwide impostor scheme and recommended saving evidence and reporting the incident to help investigators spot trends and trace spoofed numbers, according to a federal court advisory on jury scams. U.S. court notices note that legitimate warrants and jury notices are not served by phone and never demand immediate payment.
Lancaster County officials ask anyone who receives one of these calls to hang up and call the sheriff’s office directly using the number on their official website rather than a number provided by the caller. A Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office video reiterates the simple rule: do not engage, do not pay and verify any legal claims through official channels.
