Oneida County Sheriff Warns Residents About Jury Duty Scam

The Oneida County Sheriff's Office is warning residents to watch out for a jury duty scam that is making the rounds.

Scammers are calling people and pretending to be deputies. They claim the person missed jury duty and now owes money or could be arrested if they don't act right away.

How the Jury Duty Scam Works

The scam callers often say their name is "Seth Copeland" and claim you missed jury duty or ignored a subpoena.

They may even make it look like they're calling from a local phone number or the Oneida County Sheriff's Office by using fake caller ID technology.

The caller may tell you to report to the Sheriff's Office immediately or pay money to avoid being arrested. They often ask for payment through apps like Cash App, Zelle, Venmo or PayPal and try to pressure you into paying right away.

The Sheriff's Office Will Never Ask for Money

The Sheriff's Office says it will never call you and demand payment over the phone.

Court fines are only handled through the court system. Bail payments are made in person at the jail with proper identification, not through payment apps or over the phone.

What To Do If You Get One of These Calls

If you receive a suspicious call:

• Don't give out personal or banking information.
• Ask for the caller's name and phone number.
• Hang up and verify the information before doing anything else.
• Report the scam to the Oneida County Sheriff's Office by calling 315-736-0141.

Protect Yourself From Phone Scams

Scammers can sound convincing and may even know some of your personal information. If something doesn't feel right, trust your instincts.

Never send money or share personal information until you've confirmed who you're talking to.