LIHUE — Law enforcement officials are warning residents of a jury duty phone scam currently circulating Kauai.
The Kauai Police Department (KPD) is alerting residents about a current scam in which fraudsters are impersonating officers and are demanding immediate payment to avoid arrest.
In the scam, the criminals claim to be KPD officers, informing victims they have a warrant out for their arrest due to missed jury duty or unpaid fines. In order for the victim to avoid arrest, they are pressured to pay a hefty fine.
The criminals sometimes use real names and court addresses, or manipulate the caller ID to make the calls appear legitimate. KPD urges everyone to remain vigilant and protect themselves form this ongoing scam, and offers the following tips to avoid being contacted by phone criminals.
• Remember, KPD will never request payment of any kind for fines or legal matters.
• All official communications from the court, including jury summons, will be sent via U.S. Mail.
• Neither the court nor law enforcement will ever demand payment over the phone.
• Don’t trust your caller ID. Technology makes it easy for scammers to fake caller ID information. Calls can look like they come from your local area code, or from a specific organization, even if they don’t.
• Stay calm. Don’t let scammers rush or pressure you into making hasty decisions. They may threaten you with immediate arrest to pressure you into paying quickly.
• Verify callers. Legitimate officials will not hesitate to provide verification and confirm any claims. If in doubt, hang up and contact KPD directly at 808-241-1711.
Officers encourage everyone to report any suspicious calls or messages to KPD Dispatch at 808-241-1711.
