“These scams can look very convincing,” Thompson said. “The caller uses a number that appears to be from Tonganoxie and pretends to be from the sheriff’s office, claiming there’s a warrant for your arrest over missed jury duty.”

In a recent case, the scammer left a voicemail and even answered when the target returned the call, demanding immediate payment of a bond using gift cards and money orders.

“When a scammer answers a return call, it can make the scheme seem legitimate–but it’s not,” Thompson emphasized. “Stay alert.”

He offered these key reminders:

• Law enforcement will never ask for payment over the phone.

• They will never request gift cards or money orders.

• Always verify independently before responding to such calls.