A phone scammer claiming to be a deputy or officer of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office Warrants Squad is telling potential victims that they missed jury duty, or a court date.

According to reports, the scammer assures his mark that providing a credit card number over the phone will take care of the fine, and prevent arrest and prosecution.

Sgt. Butch Clark, a crime prevention officer for Orange County, told WCHL that about four or five such complaints have come into the Sheriff’s Office since Monday. He said it’s not a particularly novel scam.

“It’s just one that’s popped up again,” said Clark. “Some of the surrounding counties have had it. It seems like it goes from county to county.”

Some of the other counties where reports of the attempted ruse have surfaced this year include Wake, Mecklenburg, Columbia, Rutherford, Greenville and Cumberland.

Back in May, a 63-year-old woman in Leland reported being conned out of $5,400 in the jury-duty grift.

There are no leads in Orange County. so far. Clark said the crook’s number was disconnected when investigators called.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office never collects fines or costs of court by phone – nor does the IRS, if you happen to have been on the receiving end of that similar phone-scam attempt recently.

Clark advises people to be smart, and to never give personal information over the phone.

“The red flag is when they ask for money, ask for personal information,” said Clark. “We would never do anything like that.”

If you get one of these calls, please contact the Orange County Sheriff’s Office at 919-245-2940 or 911.