Community Warning: Phone Scam From Law Enforcement Impersonators
United States citizens enjoy many rights including the freedom of religion, the freedom of speech, the right to bear arms, and the right against unreasonable searches and seizures. These rights are set forth in the United States Constitution and in particular, the Bill of Rights. U.S. citizens also have certain civic duties, such as jury duty, and they have the right to vote. At the same time however, citizens and immigrants should be and remain cautious to protect themselves against scams and not fall victim to them. Scams, of course, are all too common in America.
Unfortunately, scams of every sort, such as charities falsely promising relief for the hungry, poor or oppressed occur every day. A recent reported scam befell Nashville and Brentwood, Tennessee involving summons for jury duty. Scammers called individuals and falsely stated that they had missed reporting to jury duty and must pay hundreds of dollars – or else. When law enforcement learned about it, a local police department officer alerted people – citizens and immigrants — via email, writing: “In the past week, we have received several reports of citizens receiving phone calls from someone claiming to work for a local police department advising the victims that they had failed to appear for jury duty and that a warrant had been issued for their arrest. To settle the warrant, the victim would need to pay $400 in the form of a MoneyPak money order.” The police clarified that if law enforcement really possess an arrest warrant, officers typically arrive at the arrestee’s door and do not ask for settlement money. The police encourage people to contact them if they get a similar call and to forward his message to others.
Please know that law enforcement do not often warn individuals about scams. Therefore, stay alert. The lesson: Be smart. Think before you act. Don’t be a victim. In reality, perpetrators of these scams often place telephone calls or send emails from faraway, not just from other states but also from other countries. If you fall prey to the scam and send your money to the scammers, you have little hope of having your money returned to you.
Attorney Perry A. Craft offers this additional tip. If you are pressured to send money immediately to a stranger, stop and pause: it probably is a scam.
Perry A. Craft has dedicated his life to helping people in need. He has tried, settled, or resolved numerous civil and criminal cases in State and Federal courts, and has represented teachers and administrators before school boards, administrative judges, and the state Board of Education. Learn more about Attorney Craft.