Up next in 10
A Pasco County woman was scammed out of thousands after receiving a call claiming she missed jury duty. The Sheriff's Office warns residents to be aware of this emerging scam and never send money over the phone. #juryduty #scam #pasco #crime #fraud
Show More Show Less View Video Transcript
0:00
Here at 11, the Pasco County Sheriff's
0:01
Office is sounding the alarm on an
0:03
emerging jury duty scam. Crooks are
0:06
spoofing law enforcement numbers to
0:08
threaten victims. They could be arrested
0:10
if they don't pay up for missing jury
0:12
duty. One woman says the scam sent her
0:15
on a multi-our adrenalinefilled quest
0:18
that left her with trauma and out of
0:20
money. Fox 13's Jennifer Veas joins us
0:23
live in the newsroom. And Jennifer, you
0:25
spoke with her. How did she fall for it?
0:28
Well, Ally Jana C or Haley Jana Cash is
0:31
in her 50s and works in IT and she says
0:33
she never thought of herself as the type
0:35
of person that could fall for a scam.
0:37
That was until Friday when she was
0:39
presented with a threat that sent her
0:41
into a panic. Now she wants to share her
0:43
story to protect others from something
0:45
like this in the future. What started as
0:48
a typical Friday afternoon working from
0:50
home for Lando Lakes resident Jana Cash
0:54
turned into what felt like a hostage
0:56
situation with an invisible aggressor.
0:59
I pulled on the side of the road. I just
1:01
broke down and started to cry.
1:03
An ordeal leaving her whole family
1:05
traumatized.
1:07
My son was scared to death. He tried to
1:08
call me. He couldn't get a hold of me.
1:10
Cash says around 10:00 a.m. Friday, she
1:12
got a call from a 727 number. I had
1:15
gentleman speaking to me uh presenting
1:17
himself calling from the courthouse from
1:19
West Pasco County from uh from the
1:22
sheriff's office telling me that there
1:24
is a warrant arrest on my person because
1:27
I forgot to come to jury duty.
1:29
The number texting her what appeared to
1:31
be court documents verifying that. Then
1:34
a list of her rights.
1:36
They had my email address. They had my
1:38
social security number. They had my
1:40
driver's license number. My full
1:42
address. The person said the only way to
1:44
avoid arrest is sending $9,000.
1:48
They made me um get in my car. They knew
1:50
the vehicle I was driving and they said
1:52
I have to go to my final finance
1:54
institution, withdraw the cash, place
1:56
the bond,
1:57
telling her she had to stay on the phone
1:59
the whole time and couldn't tell anyone
2:02
what was going on. She only had $1,000
2:05
available and told them she had to loop
2:07
her husband into the call.
2:08
I said, "You need to send me more money.
2:10
I am in trouble and you need to send me
2:12
money now. He started to ask questions.
2:13
What is it for? I says, I can't tell
2:14
you.
2:15
He sent $1,500.
2:17
The scammer ordered her to send the
2:19
money through coin flip machine using
2:22
this QR code. After three hours of
2:25
agony, speaking to three fake deputies,
2:28
she sent a total of $2,000 and they let
2:32
her go. after I called 911.
2:35
There have been seven victims on that
2:36
day in Pasco County with the same issue
2:39
for much more money than I paid.
2:42
And certainly a scary situation there.
2:43
Now, her hope is to protect others
2:45
through her story. The Pasco County
2:47
Sheriff's Office says courts and law
2:49
enforcement will never ask you for
2:50
payment over the phone or wire transfer,
2:53
and you will never face an immediate
2:54
arrest for missing jury duty. So, if you
2:57
receive a call like this, hang up
2:58
immediately. Contact your local courts
3:00
to verify your jury status and notify
3:03
law enforcement.
#Computers & Electronics
#Crime & Justice
#Law Enforcement
#Local News