Scammers pretending to be deputies, threatening arrest

Local authorities are warning about scammers pretending to be a deputy, claiming you missed jury duty and threatening you with arrest if you don’t give them money.

The Johnson County Sheriff’s department has been getting reports of someone attempting to extort money from residents over the last several days, impersonating deputies. The scammers are using real names of deputies and fake badge numbers while threatening callers with urgent language to scare them. The calls even may appear to caller ID as if they are coming from the sheriff’s department.

Scammers frequently impersonate law enforcement officials over the phone. Authorities warn you not to give out your personal or financial information to a caller. Law enforcement officers will never ask for you to make a payment over the phone to avoid arrest. And they will never ask you to purchase gift cards or prepaid debit cards to pay a debt or fine.

Should you get one of these calls, authorities say that you should hang up. Do not press any links in text messages or return call-back numbers in the message.

If you have any questions you call your local authorities.