Fake jury duty calls spoof a real Texas sheriff's phone number

A phone call that says you missed jury duty may not come from the police, even if your screen shows the sheriff's real number. The Howard County Sheriff's Office in Texas says an active scam is under way. Callers pretend to be law enforcement officers and tell people they failed to answer a jury summons.

What happened

According to the sheriff's office, the scammers use technology that makes a call look like it comes from an actual Sheriff's Office phone number. The callers say the person ignored a jury summons issued through the Howard County District Clerk's Office. Officials say that claim is false.

The Sheriff's Office says it does not contact residents by phone about missed jury summonses. That makes the call itself the warning sign, whatever number appears on the screen.

Why it matters

Most people trust a number they recognize, especially one tied to the police. A call that seems to come from the sheriff can feel urgent and official. The sheriff's office stressed that a caller ID showing a real law enforcement number does not prove the call is real. Showing a trusted number is the trick that makes this scam work.

Who it affects

The warning is aimed at residents of Howard County, Texas. But the same approach can reach anyone who gets a call from someone claiming to be law enforcement. If you live elsewhere, treat a surprise call about jury duty with the same doubt.

What to do

The alert box above lists the steps. In short: hang up, share nothing, and if you are worried, look up the office's number yourself and call it directly.

What is not known

The material from the sheriff's office does not say what the scammers ask for after they make the claim, how many people have been called, or whether anyone has lost money. It also does not say how long the calls have been going on.