Sheriff warns of scammer who claims residents owe money for missing jury duty

Great-grandmother Imagene Davis got a call, telling her she had two warrants for her arrest.

But Davis, 69, hung up on the man who claimed he was a St. Clair County deputy sheriff. She called the police.

“I knew I didn’t have warrants out for my arrest. I didn’t do anything,” Davis said.

The sheriff’s department is now investigating numerous reports, including the one from Davis, involving a scam where an individual calls and tells people he is a St. Clair County Deputy.

“The individual identifies himself as Deputy James Marshal and calls from phone number (618) 972-6040 and advises the victim they have missed jury duty and a warrant has been issued for their arrest,” Sheriff’s Capt. Scott Weymouth said.

A southern-accented man asks callers to leave a message on the voicemail for Deputy James Marshal.

The faux deputy tells callers they need to get prepaid money order cards and give information to clear the warrant. Weymouth said the caller asks for as much as $2,000 on the prepaid card, then calls back and gets the number to obtain the money.

“He wanted my cell phone number. I wasn’t giving him that,” Davis said.

Weymouth said more than 10 people have reported getting calls from “Deputy Marshal.” Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff’s department. The public is reminded that the sheriff’s department will never contact the public in this matter.

This particular scam is not targeted to the elderly, Weymouth said, though they may be more susceptible to complying with demands.

“Working together will help stop people who prey on the elderly or people susceptible to this scam,” Weymouth said.

Not Davis. She gave this advice to those who get a call from “Deputy James Marshal”: “Hang up on them. Then call police,” she said.

This story was originally published January 19, 2016 at 3:15 PM with the headline "Sheriff warns of scammer who claims residents owe money for missing jury duty."