Jury duty scam is back and citizens are being warned to beware

Several citizens have recently reported that they have been targeted by phone and threatened with arrest for failing to comply with jury service. To avoid jail, recipients are asked to purchase money cards and provide the number on the card to the caller. A recent victim paid $15,000 via gift cards to the scammers.

A number of the scammers, posing as Caddo Parish Sheriff Office(CPSO) deputies, have identified themselves as Captain Kevin Dunn, Lieutenant James Bonnette, and Lieutenant Donnie Laney. The computer generated numbers used for the scam even come with voicemail greetings that use the stolen identities.

Caddo Sheriff Steve Prator said citizens will not receive jury notices over the phone. They should beware if they receive such a call or if the caller makes threats. Most importantly, you will never be asked to purchase a money card or provide personal information over the phone.

Also, Sheriff Prator said, never call a number provided by the scammer. Look up legitimate phone numbers for government offices if you have questions.