The Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department is warning residents about a new scam circulating involving warrants for missing jury duty.

According to a news release, the sheriff’s department has received information that scammers are calling Buchanan County citizens stating that the citizen has a warrant for missing Jury duty. The citizen is then instructed that they will have to pay a fine immediately to a member of the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department. The citizen is instructed that they have to stay on the phone and immediately pay the fine at suite 200.

The department said the scammers are using phone numbers belonging to the sheriff’s department for the caller ID and names of members of the department.

“THIS IS A SCAM. The Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department will NEVER contact you by phone to come in and pay a fine. The department will also never call you and ask you to pay a fine over the phone. The location being given to pay the fine at is not a real location at the department,” said Deputy Sarah Hardin with the sheriff’s department.

Residents are being advised to never give out their personal information over the phone to a caller advising they are from the sheriff’s department or to give their debit or credit card information over the phone.

“Citizens should always verify the number calling them by calling back to the department and requesting the member of the department by name,” Hardin said.