READING, Pa. – The Berks County District Attorney’s Office is warning people about a jury duty phone scam.

People pose as Berks County Sheriff’s deputies or other court officials and falsely claim that the recipient failed to appear for jury duty and that an active arrest warrant has been issued, the DA’s office said in a news release.

The DA’s office said the caller then demands immediate payment to resolve the alleged warrant and prevent the resident from being taken into custody.

There is no legitimate warrant or payment requirement, the DA’s office said.

Do not make any payments.

Immediately hang up and contact the Berks County Sheriff’s Office at (610) 478-6240, the Berks County Detectives at (610) 478-7171, or your local police department, according to the news release.

The DA’s office said residents should be aware of the following warning signs:

· Legitimate notices concerning jury duty and other court matters are generally sent through official correspondence. Courts and law enforcement agencies will not demand immediate payment over the phone to avoid arrest.

· Scammers may demand payment through cryptocurrency or other electronic payment methods. Government agencies do not demand payment through these means, the DA’s office said.

· Fraudsters often use caller-ID spoofing to make a call appear to originate from an actual government agency, the DA’s office said. If you have concerns about a call, independently obtain the agency’s official telephone number and contact the agency directly to verify the information.

· The DA’s office said scammers may provide convincing-looking documents by email or text message in an attempt to make their claims appear legitimate. Official seals, letterhead, and legal terminology do not establish that the documentation is genuine.

· Scammers frequently use high-pressure tactics designed to create fear and stress. They may insist that you remain on the phone until the matter is “resolved” in an effort to prevent you from independently verifying their claims, according the DA’s office. If you are unsure whether a call is legitimate, hang up and contact the agency directly using a telephone number you have independently verified.

If you receive a suspicious call of this nature, do not provide personal information, financial information, or payment to the caller. Immediately end the call and contact your local police department, the Berks County District Attorney’s Detective Unit, or the Berks County Sheriff’s Office to report the incident.

If you believe you have received legitimate court or jury-duty correspondence, contact the appropriate court directly using a verified telephone number, the DA’s office said.