Bulloch County residents are being warned about a new jury duty scam where callers impersonate court officials or law enforcement officers in an attempt to steal money. The Bulloch County Clerk of Court’s Office has received numerous reports from citizens who have been contacted by phone or text and falsely told they missed jury duty and must pay a fine.
According to officials, some individuals received text messages containing links to pay the supposed fine, while others were pressured over the phone to provide credit card information. The scammers often use official-sounding names and badge numbers to appear legitimate.
The Clerk of Court’s Office clarified that they only contact individuals who have provided a phone number on a Juror Information Sheet and do not currently send text messages regarding jury service. Although a text notification system may be implemented in the future, residents would need to sign up for it voluntarily and would only receive messages after receiving a jury summons.
Officials stress that the Clerk’s Office will never solicit fine payments over the phone. Any fines related to missed jury duty would be handled by the court in an open courtroom setting.
Residents are urged not to provide personal or financial information to anyone claiming to collect jury-related fines. Those who receive suspicious calls or messages are encouraged to verify their validity by contacting the Bulloch County Clerk of Court’s Office at (912) 764-9009 or the Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office at (912) 764-8888.