Cumberland sheriff warns about phone scam

The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a phone scam.

The callers claim to be members of the Sheriff’s Office or with “court services,’’ the Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

The callers may mention names including Sheriff Ennis Wright and Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Jim Ammons, the release said.

“These con artists can sound convincing when they call,’’ the Sheriff’s Office said in the release. “They use fake names and bogus identification.’’

The caller ID may be altered to look as though the call is coming from the Sheriff’s Office or from the Cumberland County Courthouse, the release said.

The scammers tell the victims they need to send money via Cashapp or Venmo for failure to appear on a jury summons. They are threatened with arrest if they refuse to cooperate, the Sheriff’s Office said.

The Sheriff’s Office said it would not:

• Call about a jury summons without first having mailed a summons.
• Require residents to use a specific payment method for a fine. This includes a prepaid debit card, wiring money or using apps such as Venmo, PayPal or Cash App.
•  Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
• Threaten to bring in law enforcement to have someone arrested for not paying.

Residents who believe they have been contacted by these scammers are asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at 910-323-1500.