Scammers are lighting up phones in New Braunfels, pretending to be law enforcement and shaking people down for cash over supposed missed jury duty, Comal County officials warned Monday. The callers reportedly sound polished, lean hard on scare tactics, and push victims toward oddball payment methods that are tough to trace.
In a post on X, Comal County, Texas urged residents to slam the brakes on any suspicious call by hanging up and verifying the claim directly with the District Clerk at 830-221-1250. The county reminded the public that officials "will NOT" call demanding payment, require anyone to show up at the sheriff's office to pay, or threaten arrest warrants over the phone.
The transcript attached to the post also notes that scammers have told victims payments were being run through a vendor called "BTC Tech (Bailing Institute & Technologies)," which county staff flatly called fraudulent. Official contact information for the District Clerk is listed on the county website at Comal County District Clerk.
SCAM ALERT: Scammers may sound professional, claim to be law enforcement, and pressure you to pay for “missed jury service.” ⚠️ We will NOT: • Call demanding payment • Require payment at the Sheriff’s Office • Threaten warrants over the phone Hang up and verify: 830.221.1250
— Comal County, Texas (@ComalCountyTX) March 23, 2026
How the scam works
According to county officials, callers often spoof local numbers and rattle off bits of personal information to sound legitimate, then pivot to demanding immediate payment by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency. Consumer advocates and law enforcement repeatedly stress that courts use mail to contact potential jurors and do not call people out of the blue demanding money, AARP notes.
What officials recommend
Comal County is urging residents to end any sketchy call right away, refuse to share personal or financial information, and double-check jury service notices using official contact details instead of numbers provided by the caller. Agencies across North Texas have reported nearly identical schemes and are sounding the same alarms, as the Dallas Morning News reports.
Where to report it
Anyone who receives one of these calls, or has already sent money, is urged to keep call logs, receipts, and any recordings, then report the incident to local and federal authorities. Victims can file a complaint with the FBI at IC3, report the scam to the FTC through its consumer alert on missed-jury scams, and check the Comal County Sheriff's Office website for local contact information.
